The admission was made by the ministry's public relation officer Silas Sehularo who said that with over 27,000 teachers nationwide, they are grappling with providing accommodation for all of them. "In the 2011/12 financial year we spent P72 million to buy 102 houses and in the financial year of 2012/13 we spent a total of P191 million to purchase 391 houses," he said. He further said they buy these houses from Botswana Housing Cooperation (BHC) and they have bought them in various places such as Gaborone, Serowe, Mahalapye, Selebi-Phikwe, Gantsi, Maun and Jwaneng.
Sehularo said their obstacles were more pronounced where there were no BHC houses to rent or purchase. He, however, said the Ministry has appealed to the community to provide houses for rent for teachers.He explained that in the 2011/12 financial year, teachers' houses in 36 junior secondary schools have been renovated across the country."Some of the schools in North East region are Pandagala JSS, Nswazi JSS, Matsiloje, Tashata JSS, Selepa JSS and Montsamaisa JSS among others. "For the 2012/13 financial year there are ongoing renovations in 10 schools across the country which include Bobirwa JSS, Bathoen JSS, Kerekeng Flats and Lebogang JSS among others," said Sehularo. He noted that teachers are understanding and have been patient. "Teachers have acknowledged the challenge the ministry is faced with and some willingly share houses," he noted. He also stated that the ministry continues to rent and buy houses across the country to eventually curb the accommodation problem. Sehularo disclosed that not long ago the ministry bought 35 houses in Maun at a total value of P17.3 million to address accommodation problems faced by teachers in that area.
