Gov't steps up school infrastructure drive
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday November 11, 2026 06:00
This was revealed by President Duma Boko yesterday when delivering his third State of the Nation Address (SONA) address. Boko revealed government established the Education Infrastructure and Management Company (EIMC) in December 2025 to fast-track the delivery of public school infrastructure projects. He said the company was already utilising graduates from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, alongside participants from the Ikageng Public Works Programme, to undertake maintenance works across schools. “Currently, maintenance projects are underway at 11 senior secondary schools and 11 junior secondary schools, with completion targeted for March 31, 2027. “Meanwhile, preparations are ongoing for additional maintenance works as government moves towards its target of 40 prioritised schools,” he added. Beyond school maintenance, he said government has also established Catalyst Real Estate Limited, a wholly state-owned company tasked with managing and optimising government properties through a more commercially driven approach. Boko said improving the productivity of human resources and preparing young people for industrialisation remained central to his administration's education reforms, particularly through TVET.
He noted that the reforms had generated growing interest in vocational education, with government forging strategic partnerships with De Beers, MMG Khoemacau, Naledi Mining Corporation, and Maikarabelo Movement to strengthen practical skills development. Under the partnership with De Beers, he said students are benefiting from internship opportunities, whilst Khoemacau is transforming Maun Technical College into a Mining Centre of Excellence. Additionally, the partnership with Maikarabelo Movement is providing hands-on experience for TVET students, with 100 youth-owned textile entrepreneurs having already received training. The President further revealed that the skills component of the Ikageng Public Works Programme had engaged nearly 27,600 young people, 79% of whom are women. He said the initiative had become a significant investment in youth empowerment, with total labour expenditure exceeding P820 million since 2025. Of this amount, more than P274 million had been paid directly to young people trained under the programme. Meanwhile, he said government has introduced the Bula Buka project to address barriers preventing young people from accessing education, particularly those affected by limited school spaces and unsatisfactory academic performance.
Boko added the three-year initiative was designed to empower out-of-school youth through education, skills training and character development. So far, 197 teachers have been employed, whilst 568 learners were registered for the 2026 academic year. Furthermore, he said government has embarked on an ambitious programme to deliver 100 schools and clinics across the country, with the launch of Duma Boko School in Block 7, Gaborone, in September marking its first milestone. “The school, which can accommodate more than 380 learners, features technology-enabled classrooms, facilities for learners with special educational needs and a swimming pool. It has already welcomed its first cohort of students,” he pointed out. Boko said the project introduced a new model of social infrastructure delivery by combining private investment, modern construction technology, local manufacturing and government facilitation. At the centre of this approach is Afriforge, he said, a manufacturing facility under development in Gabane, which will produce prefabricated components for schools, clinics and other public infrastructure. “Using approximately 73% locally sourced materials, the facility is expected to shorten construction periods, create employment opportunities, develop local skills and strengthen domestic manufacturing,” he stated. The President said the initiatives formed part of Government's broader efforts to improve education delivery while equipping young people with practical skills needed to support the country's industrialisation agenda.