A promising step for public schools, but...

The Monitor Editor | Wednesday March 18, 2026 06:10

For too long, the state of many public schools has been a source of shame. We have all seen the pictures and heard the stories of broken windows, unreliable water and electricity, topped by classrooms that are not fit for proper learning. The establishment of the Education Infrastructure and Management Company Ltd (EIMC) signals that authorities are finally ready to take this problem seriously. We must commend the government for this initiative. By creating a dedicated company, the government is showing it understands that managing nearly a thousand schools across the country is a big job. It cannot be an afterthought.

The new company, with its own board and a clear mandate to handle everything from building new classrooms to fixing a leaking tap, brings hope of efficiency.

The promise to modernise schools and improve digital access is also forward-thinking. In today's world, our children cannot afford to learn in a setting that belongs to the past.

President Duma Boko’s connection of this project to the broader national cleanup campaign is also a good way of thinking. A clean and well-kept school is the first step in creating a clean and well-kept nation.

It gives students a sense of pride and shows them that their government cares about their future.

However, as we celebrate this good news, we must also raise a hand of caution. History has taught us that good ideas on paper do not always translate into good results on the ground.

The danger with any large government project, especially one that involves large sums of money for construction and maintenance, is that it can become a feeding trough for a connected few.

Batswana are tired of seeing public funds disappear into the pockets of 'tenderpreneurs' whilst public services crumble. We have seen it happen before.

Historically, a project would start with great fanfare, but soon we hear stories of overpriced contracts, shoddy workmanship, and unfinished jobs.

The school gets a new coat of paint, but it peels off within a year. A new computer lab is built, but the computers never arrive. This must not be the fate of the EIMC.

The government must ensure that the company operates with fierce transparency. Every tendering process must be open and fair. Every project must be monitored, and those who fail to deliver must be held accountable.