06 Jul 2023

Ministry of Education and Skills Development is aware that the boiler at Mmadinare Senior Secondary School has not been functional for a long time due to inadequate budgetary provisions for preventive and corrective maintenance. Assistant minister, Mr Aubrey Lesaso said his ministry had initially planned to address the boiler issue during the 2022/23 financial year, but due to financial constraints arising from commitments from the reorganised ministry the project was deferred and budgeted for during the 2023/24 financial year. “To progress this proposed project, the ministry has engaged relevant stakeholders on the uptake method and a conditional assessment on the solar heating system at that school will be undertaken during quarter II of the financial year 2023/24 and procurement and execution in quarter III and IV respectively,” he said.   Mr Lesaso said the school was currently warming water for pupils using firewood procured locally, which has not been sustainable. Selebi Phikwe East MP, Mr Kgoberego Nkawana had asked the minister if he was aware that there was a boiler at Mmadinare Senior Secondary School which had never worked. He also wanted the minister to state the reasons why it had taken so long for the ministry to address it. He also asked the minister if there was any interim plan to provide pupils with warm water. ENDs