GCC mayor's speech disconcerts councillors
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday December 4, 2018 15:32
Mayor Kagiso Thutlwe informed Monday’s gathering that total enrolment for all the 29 primary schools in Gaborone stands at 23,708.
“We have observed that these numbers are increasing every term due to increase in the number of foreign students and learners migrating from private schools. This has resulted in oversubscription in some of the schools, which leads to some of the classes being conducted outside,” he said.
“This is compounded by the fact that some of the schools do not have the requisite 22 classrooms as provided in the revised national policy of education. While resources are still inadequate to provide facilities in all schools we need to ensure that pupils are attributed equitably among schools so that there is a balance in enrolment. I therefore appeal to school heads and parents to work together to find a solution in terms of admitting pupils,” Thutlwe said.
Specially elected Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) councillor Unami Lesole said council should take a resolution in which each school is forced to admit 70% of students from within the area and 30% of students coming from outside.
“I urge council to increase classrooms in all 29 primary schools in the next financial year. We cannot afford to have children who are still being taught under the tree. Climate change has affected us badly. It is either extremely hot, cold or raining. This is not good for the children and schools also need to be renovated,” Lesole said.
“Such environment in schools is not conducive for children at all. Inspection needs to be done regularly to check their classroom windows, doors, toilets amongst other things,” she said.
She also requested council to build accommodation for teachers to avoid a situation where teachers are forced to travel distances to come to work.
Other councillors who commented yesterday supported Lesole and agreed that a teacher/student ratio needs to be taken into consideration.
They said that would also help students’ performance if they are not congested in classrooms.