Primary schools hit by food, stationery shortages
Pini Bothoko | Tuesday February 20, 2024 06:00
In response to a parliamentary query, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mabuse Pule attributed the scarcity of food and stationery in many primary schools to management issues.
The question came from Thamaga-Kumakwane Member of Parliament (MP), Pelaelo Motaosane, who sought information on the status of the feeding programme in primary schools nationwide and highlighted the reported absence of food since schools reopened. Motaosane also enquired about the ministry's awareness of shortages in stationery and furniture across primary schools in the country. In his answer, the assistant minister acknowledged the shortages at the start of the term, saying that, on average, supply and distribution were generally satisfactory, especially in 22 out of 31 local authorities.
“Recently a team of senior officials from the ministry was deployed to deal with this crisis, a report will soon be released and we will see how best we can respond to this predicament," Pule disclosed. He added the shortage included commodities like milk, peanut butter, sorghum grains, sorghum meal, and Tswana cowpeas. While milk has been supplied, cowpeas and sorghum meal have been replaced with canned stewed steak and maize meal, respectively. Acknowledging furniture shortages nationwide, Pule said there will be efforts to address the situation in the coming financial year. He noted that increased enrollment in the Mogoditshane-Thamaga district, rising by 3,115, contributed to the supply challenges of food, stationery, and furniture. The assistant minister highlighted concerns, including learners from underprivileged families relying on school meals.
“This situation is a great concern because we have learners who are from unprivileged families that at times come to school with empty stomachs and mostly rely on food supply in schools. “Other reasons include late supply due to reasons associated with contract management and poor food quality rendering that the supply be recalled. Price increase for some commodities has also necessitated that assessments be undertaken to determine the validity of such thus causing delays,” he said. Pule expressed embarrassment over schools reportedly relying on parents for furniture.
In response, Motaosane raised concerns about the impact of increased student numbers on academic performance, with learners being released as early as 10am due to the inability to provide food. He also criticised the district's budget allocation, deeming it insufficient to meet schools' demands. Other MPs echoed Motaosane's sentiments, urging the ministry to expedite responses to food and stationery shortages faced by primary schools nationwide.