04 Sep 2023

One girls’ hostel at Masunga Senior Secondary School was gutted by fire on Saturday at around 8am.

Another fire broke out  at boys’ hostel at midnight same day.

In an interview, deputy school head Mr Reuben Lerothodi said the security guard alerted the school management about smoke that was coming from one of the girls’ hostel rooms.

Upon arrival, he said they realised that the room was burning from the roof.

“The fire was in the upper room, the bottom rooms and adjacent ones were not affected,” he said, adding they immediately informed fire brigade in Francistown and Tutume.

Mr Lerothodi said the girls’ hostel housed seven form 4 pupils  who were on holiday as well as  five form 5 girls, adding that nothing was recovered including learning material save for laptops and the uniform the girls were wearing on the day.

The five pupils, he said, were released to their parents to assist in counselling and would return at a date still to be determined.

He said the North East District Commissioner and North East District regional education director-operation came to observe the situation and were awaiting support from the ministry.

Mr Lerothodi noted that they approached the guidance and counselling department to seek assistance for pupils.

He said the fire outbreak destabilised the whole block as they evacuated all learners.

On the outbreak at boys’ hostel, he said he was notified by the boarding master.

He said the boys managed to put out the fire, adding that the cause of fire was still unknown and investigations were ongoing.

He said there were two boys occupying the room who managed to escape through the window and in the process sustained minor bruises. The boys,were also sent home. ENDS