15 Dec 2021

Contractors engaged in the construction of schools projects under the Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) III in the North West district have been urged to deliver quality projects on schedule.

Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Mpho Morapedi made the call at the ground breaking of the projects at Legothwana.

Mr Morapedi said that the ESP III projects included construction of classrooms and staff houses in some schools in the North West District and expected to be completed within 12 months.

The ESP III project, he said was divided in packages according to the contractors.

Package A, which would be constructed by Dupa Enterprises, he said, included construction of classrooms, toilets and staff houses for some primary schools at Komana, Legothwana and Toteng at the tune of P24.7 million.

Mr Morapedi said that Package B included Boyei, Boseja and Disaneng primary schools projects to be undertaken by Juju Investments at the tune of P10.4 million.

Package E, he said, would be undertaken by Chareu Investments for Samochima, Kathiana and Shakawe primary schools projects at the tune of P15.6 million.

Mr Morapedi said that Package F, which entailed construction of Kajaja Primary school would be done by L&H Construction at the tune of P10.2 million while Cornicles Building Construction would construct Mohembo primary school project at the tune of P10.7 million.

He said Legothwana Primary School project was significant as the school used tented classrooms and tented staff houses, which were affected by harsh weather conditions.

The project, he said, would realise construction of seven classrooms and three staff houses for Legothwana Primary School.

According to the North West District Council secretary, Mr Motlogelwa Thuso all the contractors were on site.

Legothwana Primary School, he said, was adopted by the NWDC around 2012 and was provided with tented shelters to help bring services closer to the pupils who went to school at  nearby villages.

Mr Thuso said that another project of significance in ESP III projects was the Kajaja Primary School, which had classrooms built from reeds.

NWDC deputy chairperson, Mr Lekonne Masoko in his remarks urged the contractors to ensure that the projects were of quality standard reflecting the amount of money invested.

Mr Masoko said that the projects would benefit the whole North West District in developments once completed.

The Regional Educational Director North West, Ms Veronica Mochotlhi said that provision of infrastructure to schools was crucial for the Ministry of Basic Education to attain the 21st century learner.

Ms Mochotlhi said the Ministry of Basic Education had a duty to facilitate access and equity to education to all children across Botswana hence provision of infrastructure was paramount.

She said satellite schools which were efforts of Parents Teachers Association, Local Government and Rural Development and Ministry of Basic Education helped in achieving access and equity, citing

Legothwana tented classrooms and reeds classrooms at Kajaja Primary School. She said that provision of permanent structures would help improve education in those schools. ENDS