23 Nov 2022

The ministry of education and skills development through the Central Region Office conducted a full inspection of Makalamabedi Junior Secondary School in April to address the school’s performance.

The Assistant Minister Mr Aubrey Lesaso told Parliament that a report to that effect has also been shared with the school for the implementation of recommendations while the regional office continues to monitor the school’s performance.

He said the school was also trained in change management, pastoral policy, curriculum delivery and instructional supervision in September as part of the recommendations. He explained that the school was last maintained in the 2014/15 financial year with maintenance focused on building, mechanical and electrical works.

“The school became due for maintenance again in 2019/20 financial year as per maintenance plans, but such was not carried out due to the backlog of schools in the plan and financial constraints. Nonetheless, the school had been receiving annual preventative maintenance on critical areas,” he said.

 Further, Mr Lesaso said the school along with other needy schools would be considered for full cyclic maintenance under NDP 12 and it was in the meantime assisted with preventive maintenance on annual basis.

 On handing over the school to the North West Region, he said North West and Central Regions were part of the ministry and equally able to serve the school, adding that incidentally, many of the maintenance issues in the school were attended by North West Region for expediency.

Mr Lesaso added that the Educational Regional boundaries were aligned with those of local government. 

He said given the recent changes in the boundaries, Makalamabedi would now fall under the new Boteti District.

The assistant minister added that consultations would be needed with Central District, Boteti and North West District Councils on the possibility of the school being handed to the North West Regional Education Office.

The assistant minister was answering a question from Maun East legislator, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile who wanted to know if the minister was aware of the deteriorating situation of facilities and examination results at the school.

The MP also asked about the possibility of the school being handed to the North West Regional Education Office given that 90 per cent of its students were from North West. 

ENDS