29 Oct 2013

Education director for central region says maintenance of structures that were on separate occasions gutted by fire in the past two years at Letlhakane Senior Secondary School is expected to be completed by January 2014.

Responding to questions from the residents of Letlhakane and Mmadikola during kgotla meetings that were addressed by the the Vice President, Dr Ponatshego Kedikilwe on October 24 and October 25, Mrs Bernadette Monagen said the affected structures included the administration block, two class room blocks and a store room.

On cycle maintenance of junior secondary schools, Mrs Monagen said a site visit would be paid to all schools that required maintenance in order to draw a plan of action. As for Motsumi JSS in Letlhakane, Mrs Monagen said the maintenance was done in part and that installing electrical appliances was the only thing that was still pending.

Despite the loud outcry from the community requesting maintenance of schools, Mrs Monagen called on parents to play their role in education. She said some of the fires and damage that was occasioned was as a result of vandalism on the part of the students. 

She therefore, appealed to parents to work hand in hand with teachers in disciplining their children. Mrs Monagen also informed the residents of Mmadikola that it would not be possible for government to provide allowances to the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA).

She said it was not advisable for parents to be remunerated for performing mandatory roles of ensuring that their children get education. She said it was a must for parents to be part and parcel of their children’s education.

She has also indicated that it will not be possible for her ministry to convert one of the junior schools in Boteti into a unified secondary as the schools there are currently beyond their carrying capacities.

Mr Gaboitatolwe Masole had requested for one of the junior schools to be converted into a unified secondary schools as Letlhakane Senior Secondary was far. One of the residents, Batsei Seatso had appealed to the Vice President that time had come for parents to be remunerated for the contributions they weremaking in the administration of education as PTA members.

Dr Kedikilwe informed the residents that government was committed to the development of education in the country as shown by the large share of the annual budget that is given to the ministry of education. He said it was unfortunate that most of the schools were yet to be connected to the national grid. ENDS