02 Nov 2021

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, through local authorities, will in future consider other sources of energy such as  charcoal in schools.

Answering a question in Ntlo ya Dikgosi on Wednesday, assistant minister Mr Mabuse Pule confirmed that some primary schools still used firewood for cooking. 

He explained that a variety of food items in the school menu often stretches the limited school kitchen equipment. 

He further said at times, schools also experience challenges of malfunctioning pots and or shortage of cooking gas, hence prompting schools to resort to firewood as an immediate alternative for feeding program to continue running. 

On other issues Mr Pule said inadequate funding often impedes undertaking major maintenance of photocopying machines in Ghanzi district. 

He nevertheless stated that Ghanzi District Council would continue to rationalise and ensure schools share resources while still sourcing funds to procure new photocopying machines and or maintain existing machines. 

He pointed out that Ghanzi region has 22 primary schools, each allocated a heavy duty photocopying machine except Kuke and K’joe primary schools which have two machines each. 

He said as a backup, Ghanzi District Council had three photocopying machines placed at Charleshill Sub-district Council and Ghanzi East Sub-District Ccouncil to be used by schools at all times particularly during examination time. 

He said in August 2021, cyclic maintenance of the machines in the district managed to bring to operation 16 photocopying machines while eight  machines based at Metsimantsho, Tsootsha, Bere, West Hanahai, K’joe, Grootlagte, D’kar and Ghanzi primary schools required major maintenance. 

Kgosi Ezekiel Joel of Bobirwa region had asked if ministry was aware that there were still some schools using firewood for cooking. 

He wanted to know if they would consider charcoal as an alternative source of energy. 

Kgosi Esau Molehele of Ghanzi East region asked if ministry was aware that there were no photocopying machines in primary schools in Ghanzi region, which was taxing for teachers during examinations. 

He further wanted to know how the situation would be addressed. ENDS