21 Mar 2024

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development plans to carry out repairs of the Nata Senior Secondary School boys’ hostel in the 2024/25 financial year.

Education and skills development minister, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe revealed this in Parliament on Wednesday, when responding to a question from Nata/Gweta MP, Mr Polson Majaga.

Dr Letsholathebe stated that the Nata Senior Secondary School boys hostel was gutted by fire in November 2019 and June 2023.

He said the ministry would, as an interim measure, maintain one building, which was part of the site office during construction of the school.  He said the block once completed would accommodate male boarders, while repairs of the hostel were still being carried out.

He said the contractor had been awarded the maintenance tender and was expected to start work on the March 18, 2024.

In the meantime form four male boarders have been redirected to attend at other senior schools, he said. Dr Letsholathebe pointed out that senior officials from the ministry were immediately dispatched to site for situational assessments of both fire incidents and moral support to the affected learners.

He said when the first boys’ hostel fire incident happened, the burnt block occupants were relocated to an unused block of the same capacity.  He said initial inspection revealed that the burnt hostel block could have sustained structural damages, hence a detailed structural assessment was required. He said while awaiting for structural assessment to be effected, a second fire incident occurred and another block was burnt. “It was further established that the repair works for both blocks would be capital intensive and would need proper budgetary provision to be made,” he said.

Mr Majaga had asked whether the minister was aware that the Nata Senior Secondary School boy’s hostels were gutted by fire. He also wanted the minister to explain the permanent plans in place to maintain the hostels, and to state the short term plans in place to accommodate the 2024 form fours learners. ENDS