19 Jun 2025

A contractor  is on site at Itekeng Junior Secondary School in Ghanzi for maintenance works following protest by teachers over the school’s poor sanitation and dilapidated buildings which required immediate action.

According to Department of Technical Services (DTS)  deputy director, Mr Khumo James, Itekeng school project had been awarded to Ramogotsi Investment at an estimated cost of about P12 million.

Mr James stated that the project was expected to take 40 weeks and the scope of works would cover classroom renovations, refurbishment of staff houses and learner’s hostels, electrical and mechanical works as well as other specified external works.

Speaking during the project commissioning meeting at the school’s premises on Wednesday, Ghanzi District Council chairperson, Mr Thabiso Kebadile highlighted that in his roadmap, education and health were some of the thematic areas that he was committed to. 

He said it was important to ensure that communities received quality education and healthcare services.

He, therefore said, the engagement of the contractor to address the long standing maintenance issues would support their realisation of delivering and achieving quality education.

Mr Kebadile implored the contractors to ensure proper project management whereby, all the works would be completed on time and meeting the required quality standards as well as stakeholders’ expectations.

Furthermore, he decried poor monitoring of projects, and urged them to ensure close monitoring throughout the project stages, as that would reduce contractual disputes that he said usually consumed resources unnecessarily.

Mr James explained that, there were about 207 junior secondary schools across the country, adding that about 70 per cent of them were in a bad state.

On other issues, he mentioned that in the past the junior schools used to be in the hands of communities but with time government took over.

He however, cautioned communities of the perilous fiscal constraints the government was faced with, saying they should prepare themselves to relieve government the burden.

He added that, there would be an appointment of clerks of works who would be on site full time to ensure close monitoring of the project with control of all the operations.

Regional Director for Ghanzi region, Mr Baamogeleng Moteti mentioned that, the school was constructed in 1970’s therefore, the old infrastructure works would require significant maintenance and upgrading for them to remain functional and safe to be used.

He also urged the contractor to ensure that they live up to the new government mandate of creating job opportunities for locals for them to learn and hone their skills.

Mr Moteti further called for cordial cooperation between the contractor and the school management to allow smooth operations in the school premises.

He further implored school management to instill discipline on the students to guard against acts of vandalism.

For his part, Ramogotsi Investment director, Mr Kgosi Moetlo pleaded for support from all the stakeholders in ensuring that they delivered as expected.

“We are committed to deliver quality project, that would definitely assist in the quality education for the students in the constituency,” he said.

In his remarks, Itekeng school Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) chairperson, Mr Komberes Monyatse, expressed gratitude for the commissioning of the maintenance works project in the school.

He said previously PTA financed the minor maintenance works in the school but there was no positive progress due to frequent vandalism resulting in their coffers getting depleted.

Mr Monyatse therefore, implored parents and the community to come on board and assist government to close existing gaps in the education sector to enhance teaching and learning in schools. ENDS