28 Jan 2021

Ministry of Basic Education is unable to resource Parent and Teacher Associations (PTAs) to run parenting skills workshops due to limited resources, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi has learnt.

Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Sethabelo Modukanele said the basic education ministry had established a parent body for the PTAs of the National Parent and Teacher Association (NPTA) which submits an annual budget to ministry for their planned activities, and was assisted annually depending on the funds.

He said the funds were mainly utilised to facilitate meetings of NPTA which might include engagement with parents.

Mr Modukanele, who was answering questions on behalf of basic education minister,  also stated that basic education ministry did not have adequate funds to support every PTA across the country hence it supported NPTA, which identified priorities.

The ministry also expected PTAs to raise funds internally to cover their activities and support the schools they represent to develop.

Furthermore, Ntlo Ya Dikgosi learnt that schools held regular meetings with parents along with open days and workshops, which in a way empowered parents and advised them on the challenges that faced the youth such as drug usage, substance abuse, pregnancy, Botho, GBV and other related challenges.

Kgosi Mosadi Seboko of Ga-Malete had asked the ministry to upgrade the house on progress made on the approved motion on resourcing PTAs to run workshops and equip parents with parenting skills.

Meanwhile, Mr Modukanele also stated that Tsabong Junior Secondary School was now an intrinsic part of the Tsabong Unified Secondary School and that its buildings were fully utilised.

Mr Modukanele said the classrooms were used by learners for lessons and were compliant to COVID-19 protocols.

He said the old administrative buildings were used as office space for the various departments in the school.

Furthermore, he stated that due to threats posed by COVID-19, it was not advisable to accommodate both Institute of Development Management (IDM) and the school within same site as this would increase the number and frequency of visitors at the premises and increase risk to staff members’ health and safety.

Kgosi David Toto II of Kgalagadi South Region had asked if the ministry did not consider handing over the Tsabong Junior Secondary School to IDM.

Ntlo Ya Dikgosi was also informed that the Ministry of Basic Education was aware that staff houses at Sekgele Junior Secondary School in Thamaga last underwent maintenance in 2014/15.

Mr Modukanele said the ministry decided to decentralise funds to all secondary schools for maintenance, a step designed to empower school heads to prioritise and address their maintenance needs.

Therefore, he stated that the said school would be given funds for maintenance under the financial year 2021/22 to carry out minor maintenance of the staff houses.

Thamaga Region Kgosi Edison Gobuamang had asked if the minister was aware that staff houses at Sekgele JSS were due for maintenance and wanted to know when they would be maintained. ENDS