15 Sep 2020

The Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele, says his ministry is aware of classroom shortage countrywide. Answering a question in Parliament on Monday,

Mr Modukanele said six primary schools in Palapye were affected by shortage of classrooms and these included Khurumela, Kediretswe, Serorome and Boipuso.

He said the situation was exacerbated by the need to observe COVID-19 protocols especially social distancing. Mr Modukanele said though the ministry was faced with such a challenge, there was committment to ensuring a conducive learning environment at schools.

“We continue to explore various alternative measures to provide classroom accommodation such as churches, tents and village development committee and double shifting has been introduced to address shortage of classrooms,” he said.

He said the ministry took the pre-emptive action to ensure that pupils were not exposed to bad weather condition and no pupils had been affected as a consequence of bad weather. He further said as a long term solution, the ministry would construct additional primary schools and classrooms depending on availability of funds, adding that one primary school had been budgeted for Palapye under NDP 11.

Palapye MP, Mr Oneetse Ramogapi, had asked the minister if he was aware that some pupils were taught under trees and asked the minister to tell Parliament what was being done to remedy the situation and provide timeliness.

Furthermore, he asked if the minister was aware that some classes sought refuge in neighbouring church buildings while some resorted to using tents and if the answer was yes, was there church buildings or tents safe and conducive for learning environment. ENDS