14 Apr 2026

Shortage of chairs has forced Tshwaragano Junior Secondary School in Maun, into a double-shift arrangement, turning what should be a structured academic day into a continuous cycle that leaves little room for proper supervision.

This has seen pupils rotating through classrooms from morning until evening in a system that has strained both learners and teachers.

Acting deputy school head, Mr Geoffrey Dimbo, explained during an event to donate chairs yesterda that the school had lost its rhythm, making it difficult to monitor learners, implement programmes and maintain order.

Tshwaragano Junior Secondary School head, Ms Lynett Setumo, said the crisis intensified this year after the school admitted about 500 Form One learners, overwhelming infrastructure that was already insufficient.

“The double-shift system has erased essential school routines, with no time for assembly or registration as lessons begin immediately at 7:30am and continue until 5pm, it has become overwhelming for all,” she said.

Ms Setumo said the school now ran without pause, leaving teachers, heads of department and management with no time even for meals as they moved from one class to the next.

She explained that even basic services such as feeding, had been compromised, as preparing meals for two groups had proven difficult, leaving some learners inadequately catered for.

The strain has begun to show in learners’ behavior, with discipline weakening and learners no longer consistently adhering to school uniform standards due to reduced supervision.

The school head further said academic performance had also declined, as some learners failed to attend under the shift system, with Term One results reflecting the impact of the disruption.

Ms Setumo described the situation as deeply concerning, noting that the school no longer had the time to engage learners, guide them, or monitor their progress effectively.

Fortunately, Xigera Safari Lodge has donated 100 chairs, some relief to a school that has been operating under pressure.

Assistant human resource manager at Xigera Safari Lodge, Mr Motshwantshi Bakhai, said that although the company received many requests, the situation at Tshwaragano was urgent.

He said supporting schools was an investment in the future and pledged continued assistance where possible. Ms Setumo welcomed the timely donation and called on other stakeholders to lend a helping hand.

She also commended Kgosing/Kubung councilor, Mr Magonamo Mmolainyana, for mobilising support.  For his part, Councilor Mmolainyana said the chairs would significantly improve learning conditions and called for continued collaboration to fully resolve the challenges facing the school.

“The situation is bad to a point where students share a single chair without a desk and that has been affecting the quality of the education the pupils are receiving,” he said.

While the donation brings relief, it also highlights a broader reality, where rising enrolment continues to outpace infrastructure, leaving schools to stretch limited resources at the expense of quality education. ENDS