23 Nov 2022

Mother tongue as medium of instruction will be introduced in Mabele, Kavimba, Satau and Parakarungu schools effective first term next year.  

Staff with Chikuhane language proficiency have been recruited while compilation of the required material, including that of sign language,  is expected to be completed next month.

 This was revealed by Chobe District Council chairperson, Mr Chimney Mululwani during a full council meeting on Tuesday.

On other education-related matters,  he stated that a total of 576 learners sat for the Primary School Leaving Examination while two out of the 491 registered for the Junior Certificate Examination  deserted.

Mr Mululwani said one of the learners missed six subjects and the other only one.

“While the number looks insignificant, it is worth talking to our constituents for them to encourage children to take examinations seriously because missing an exam is costly to government,” he said.

He informed his audience that Chobe had embraced the Reset Agenda digitisation priority by equipping schools with the latest ICT equipment through the assistance of various stakeholders.

 So far Pandamatenga, Lesoma and Mabele primary schools had received equipment worth  P360 000 from Orange Botswana Foundation in partnership with Huawei.

In addition, Satau Primary School was gifted with 50 tablets by the Korean Embassy while Councillor Baboloki Mpebe acquired 18 computers for Chobe Brigade from University of Mancosa.

“Such efforts go a long way in supporting government efforts of partnering with various stakeholders to deliver quality education which in turn will deliver the 21st century learner who is globally competitive,” he said.

Turning to a matter of serious concern, Councillor Mululwani said some pre-school owners did not comply with council byelaws.

 Out of the district’s 14 pre-schools, only six were licensed while the rest were operating illegally, he said.

About the Youth Development Fund (YDF), he said the adjudication process for the 51 applications received was ongoing in order to utilise the P1.5 million for the current financial year.

Mr Mululwani said YDF loan repayment remained a challenge with the collection rate standing at 62.5 per cent.

The meeting heard that the district experienced 22 wild fires that ravaged about 11 588 hectares between July and September.

“Three of these fire incidents were massive and damaged the forest reserves and the Chobe National Park. Fortunately no human life was lost,” he said.

For the 2021/22 cropping season which ended in September, he said an estimated 464 57.92 hectares was ploughed and yielded 83 010.33 metric tonnes of produce.

Mr Mululwani said under the extended ISPAAD programme, 786 farmers registered for inputs.

He said only 47 000 hectares of the estimated 52 000 hectares available for production was  utilised.

On service delivery, Councillor Mululwani said the council continued to experience cash flow problems which often compromised the municipality’s ability to serve customers.

He blamed the state of affairs on the dwindling central government Revenue Support Grant and the council’s failure to capitalise on revenue maximisation and generation strategies.

Mr Mululwani said customers failed to pay for services and by October 31 the council had only collected about P2m against a target of P4m.

“The council started this financial year with total arrears of P2 million and as at September 30 collection of some of the arrears that have been in council’s books for 20 years amounted to P571 000 leaving a balance of P1.4 million,” he said.

Councillor Mululwani said if the situation continued, the council would have difficulty financing recurring operational activities such as maintenance of vehicles, school infrastructure, internal roads and streetlights. ENDS