27 Oct 2026

Assistant Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Mr Justin Hunyepa says current fiscal constraints present challenges, hindering among others, the unification of Mookane Junior Secondary School.

Addressing Ntlo ya Dikgosi in Gaborone on Monday, Mr Hunyepa said funds permitting, upgrading Mookane JSS to a unified secondary school would be considered.

“The idea of unifying Mookane JSS was brilliant considering its large catchment area which comprised Mmaphashalala, Dibete, Pallaroad, Poloka, Dovedale and others,” he said.

Mr Hunyepa said the Ministry had planned to construct an additional 20 staff houses at the school to support its future capacity and operational requirements through the Development Manager (DM) model.

However, he said the implementation of the project had been affected by the ongoing revocation process of the DM model. The project therefore, he said, would be implemented upon completion of the revocation process.

Addressing other issues affecting the Ministry, Mr Hunyepa said they were aware of the state of disrepair of Tsabong Unified Secondary School, adding that most of the schools were in the same state.

He said the school was earmarked for full cycle maintenance during the current financial year.

Mr Hunyepa said the tender for Tsabong Unified SS rehabilitation works was currently at the adjudication stage and the project was expected to be completed before the end of the coming financial year.

He said the scope of works would include the rehabilitation of the boys’ ablution blocks, repairs to the hostel boilers to ensure the availability of hot water and restoration of electricity and lighting in all the classrooms.

He added that the school had engaged 34 temporary teachers for term, two of which were covering for substantive teachers on study leave while the other two were covering for those on sick leave.

“The remaining 30 temporary teachers have been engaged to address increased enrolment resulting from school expansion. The Ministry continues to engage all relevant stakeholders to rationalise resources and to adjust the school’s establishment register in order to accommodate increased enrolment,” he said.

Currently, he said the school has 16 vacant posts, of which seven had been filled with the appointed teachers expected to assume duty on December 1, while the Ministry was in the process of filling the remaining nine vacant posts, anticipated to be filled before the commencement of first term in January 2027.

Mr Hunyepa said they were looking into improving the working and living conditions of teachers as well as availing books and other learning materials for a conducive learning environment.

He was responding to questions posed by Specially Elected Member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Kgosi Isabella Tshipana, who wanted to know whether the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education would consider upgrading Mookane JSS to a unified school due to its strategic location where two mines were emerging and the availability of learners from nearby villages.

Another Specially Elected member of Ntlo ya Dikgosi, Kgosi Light Babeile from Kgalagadi South also asked the minster whether he was aware of the bad state of disrepair of Tsabong Unified Secondary School, non-functional boys ablution block, the use of cold water because there was no firewood and the engagement of temporary teachers that compromised the school results. ENDS