Govt Under Pressure To Abolish School Fees

By Bame Piet
Staff Writer | Monday February 11, 2008 00:00

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Mahalapye East and Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) Chief Whip, Botlogile Tshireletso, joined the chorus yesterday, saying the government is making more people destitute by denying them access to education. She said that Form One and Form Four students in her constituency have been returned home, either to collect school fees or because they could not get their certificates. 'We are increasing the number of destitutes in the country. Why should we punish children for the sins of their parents?' she asked. What hurt the legislator most is that even orphans are denied education, or their certificates after completion, if they are in arrears. 

Tshireletso's outcry comes at a time when the main opposition Botswana National Front (BNF) has stated that it is against the re-introduction of school fees since they would deny education to many children. It also comes at a time when BDP's Specially Elected MP Botsalo Ntuane is expected to table a motion, requesting government to place a moratorium on cost sharing pending a review of its impact on access to education. 

Tshireletso said if government continues with school fees Vision 2016 goals will not be realised. The MP called for a speedy review of the salaries' commission report and announcement of increment since food prices have shot up.

She also complained that the number of women and youth in Parliament was worrisome and that there was a need for government to amend the Electoral Act to give them equal representation. She threatened that if that is not done in the near future women will march to the national assembly demanding their rights. 

Tshireletso, who was at her best, condemned government for giving lucrative jobs to foreigners at the expense of qualified citizens. 

The MP for Francistown East, Tshelang Masisi shared Tshireletso's sentiments that school fees should be abolished since many young people are likely to turn to alcohol abuse after being denied education. He cited his constituency where, due to heavy drinking, students die prematurely after they are sent home to collect school fees. 

Masisi urged government to change the current budgeting system saying it contributes to poor implementation of projects and maintenance of government buildings. He said money is only released for projects towards the end of the year and a few months before the beginning of the new financial year. 'This results in government officials spending carelessly and indiscriminately as they fear that they will have to answer questions on why they cannot spend money on planned projects,' he said.

He also requested government to effect a salary increment since prices of everything ranging from food to petrol have gone up.

The MP for Lobatse, Nehemiah Modubule, who had been listening to the MPs with amazement reminded the house that the BNF issued a warning when school fees were introduced that the idea was going to deny many Batswana the right to education. He said that they have always advocated for free and compulsory education but the BDP government that he described as lacking vision, opted to continue with the ill advised route. He wondered whether the Minister of Education, Jacob Nkate, and his two assistants were unable to use their brains to solve problems besieging their ministry. 

Modubule said that this year's budget was full of shortfalls as it was quiet on the welfare of unemployed members of society. He said this was going to make life difficult for the working class since they also have to take care of the unemployed. Modubule was still holding the floor at the time of going to press.