27 Apr 2021

Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) vice president has called for the electrification and fortification of Khwai Primary School in order to enhance safety for the school community.

Mr Tjalebgwa Bagwasi said the school, which opened its doors this year, needed tower lights and a boundary wall as it was situated in a wildlife management area. 

Teachers and pupils,’ he said, were at risk as dangerous animals such as lions, elephants and buffaloes were roaming the area at night.

Mr Bagwasi visited the school again recently to check on progress. 

The teachers union leadership visited the school early this year  to assess its readiness to admit pupils. They engaged the council and Department of Education on issues that needed to be attended.

Mr Bagwasi said teachers’ safety was compromised as they could not go outside in the evening to do their personal errands. 

He said while BTU appreciated efforts by the council to address some of the challenges, they urged them to take advantage of the school vacation to complete unfinished works such as electrical, plumbing and installation of burglars at teachers’ houses.

Mr Bagwasi said accommodation was key in remote areas, adding that the school had five staff houses and seven teachers.

He urged council to build more houses to complement staffing. 

He also said teachers should be provided with transport to do shopping.

Mr Bagwasi was also worried about understaffing, saying it was disturbing as the school was managed by senior teacher because there was no school head and deputy.

He said the school operated like a satellite school yet it was a fully-fledged school and urged relevant authorities to urgently attend to the matter.

Mr Bagwasi also complained about shortage of resources at the school, saying their expectation was that provision of resources would be a  priority. He added that teachers had no furniture.

BTU publicity secretary, Mr Zweli Tupane acknowledged that the school had been registered and given identification.  

He said they had learnt that Botswana Examination Council (BEC) recently visited the school to see if it was compatible to sit for examinations.

He also stated that a lot had to be done at the school, noting that the school kitchen was not up to standard as it had no doors and no proper disposal area.

However, Mr Tupane appreciated the council’s efforts to fence the school. He recommended a boundary wall to keep away animals.

Mr Tupane also noted that elephants had already destroyed the fence. 

He also called for adequate health facilities at the school, saying they were informed that snakes sometimes trespassed the premises. He added that the school should be provided with a snake repellant and first aid kids among others. Ends