Education ministry vows to fix public schools
Pini Bothoko | Monday May 20, 2024 06:00
For years the country’s education system has been faced with a litany challenges inside and outside the classroom something that the government has been struggling to resolve. Most schools are dilapidated and faced with shortage of classrooms, books and furniture for both teachers and learners.
Teachers are haunted by a shortage of accommodation, something that had forced them to share accommodation. This has over the years challenged the government to dig deeper into its overstretched financial resources to attend to the crisis as it is believed to be behind the lower examinations results especially at junior and senior secondary schools.
Officiating at an event on status of schools’ resources that was held at Gaborone Senior Secondary School on Wednesday, Makwinja said the ministry is fully aware of the challenges faced by teachers and learners countrywide hence highly committed towards ensuring that there are mitigations thereof to strive to address pillars of Vision 2036. She assured the nation that much is being done currently at the ministry, which is aimed at improving the status of not so welcoming situations at local schools as it is believed that a knowledge-based economy starts with the ministry by ensuring that both teachers and learners are well taken care of. “In doing so, today we are excited to inform the public that we have been able to purchase 297 new vehicles of different categories to be used by our departments including schools purely meant to enhance teachers’ efficiency in delivering the curriculum at the cost of P150 million.
I must point out that the first consignment of 35 vehicles has arrived. We are expecting the remaining consignments in batches in the next two to three months,” he said. Makwinja said they acknowledge that there is a serious shortage of transport particularly, in boarding schools and the vehicles will be used to transport learners in case of emergencies. She stated that they believe that with this replacement, the ministry will be improving service delivery for its customers being learners and teachers. She further stated that in an effort to improve teaching and learning in the classroom the ministry has procured a wide array of furniture and equipment.
“The ministry has procured 1, 785 beds for boarding students, 40, 279 students chairs, 19,300 desks, 2,180 lap stools, 5,880 mattresses, 1,480 executive chairs and swivel chairs and 6,200 printing papers at a total cost of P 28. 1 million,” she revealed. Makwinja said these efforts are being made to make the public bear witness that, something is being done to address the unbecoming situations in public schools. She further revealed that her ministry has already started addressing shortage of desks and laboratory stools and equipment in school stating that the intention is to source more and distribute to all schools. “This is also to lobby for public support as we echo our intentions as the ministry entrusted with these responsibilities. As a Ministry we are quite aware of the challenges facing our schools in providing a conducive environment where learners and teachers can have a fun-filled learning and improve on their academic success,” she said. Regarding dilapidated school buildings that need thorough maintenance, Makwinja assured the public that the ministry is sleeplessly engaging on this issue as they expect delayed projects to start soon, and be completed in time as expected. She further pleaded with contractors that will be engaged in the construction and maintenance of school facilities to do a quality work that will save government money and go a long way in good state. Moreover, the legislator further assured the nation that the Ministry is also looking at maintaining teachers’ houses which need urgent attention something which she hopes would be a morale booster to selfless teachers to do more. “We pledge support to you teachers and we are certainly committed to ensuring that your welfare matters are addressed accordingly. We are also mapping some measures to engage our learners, parents and general public to find ways of taking care of these buildings as ours, and rightly so, so that they remain in a good state to support our education, public use and for the future of the upcoming generations,” she said. Addressing shortage of books that has been a major concern for a while now, Makwinja said the matter is also being attended to as consultations with publishers and distributors are ongoing to rectify the problem and find a lasting solution. She further stated that generally the ministry is putting up quite a number of resources that will improve the lives of learners and teachers in public schools. “These resources are meant to support teaching and learning at schools, to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning that will improve academic results and success. This is not only aimed at improving the lives of learners but also those of teachers. To improve not only physical teaching environment but also the working conditions of our teachers, to be motivated enough to deliver on their much respected teaching and learning task,” said Makwinja.