11 Nov 2021

Four secondary schools in the Maun region still use pit latrines. Answering a parliamentary question on Wednesday, Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja the schools   were Tsodilo, Sedie, Tshwaragano and Moeti Junior Secondary Schools (JSS)

However, she said Tsodilo and Tshwaragano junior secondary schools had been recently expanded and that waterborne toilets had been built.

“The two schools, therefore, have both waterborne and pit latrine systems. Pit latrines are used whenever there are water shortages. Moeti and Sedie junior secondary schools still only use pit latrines,” she said.

Ms Makwinja said Moeti JSS was included in the 2022/23 expansion programme and that water system toilets would be constructed during the school expansion.

She further said Sedie JSS would be considered for upgrading to the water system in the next phase of school expansion under NDP 12 if funds permitted.

Ms Makwinja also clarified that the Ministry of Basic Education was responsible for secondary schools infrastructure while primary schools infrastructure was the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development.

She highlighted that there were 17 primary schools in Maun, and that 16 of them had both pit latrines and water system toilets. She also noted that one primary school had a pit latrine without water system toilets.

The MP for Maun West, Mr Dumelang Saleshando had asked the minister about the number of schools in Maun which still used pit latrines, and the timeframe for phasing them out as the water and sanitation network for the village was being upgraded. ENDS