Africa-Press – Botswana. Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development Mr Aubrey Lesaso has labelled Ghanzi’s Itekeng Junior Secondary School a health hazard not fit to be in operation.
Speaking during a visit to the school recently, he said the state of its toilets was hazardous to both pupils and the environment and warranted closure of the institution.
The assistant minister observed that ablution backups or waste accumulation covered toilet floors rendering them unsafe for use.
He said a situation where learners had to relieve themselves in the bush was uncalled for.
Mr Lesaso said the school’s windows and doors were damaged and almost the entire facility needed refurbishment.
“The condition of the school, particularly the toilets and boarding facilities is unbearable and a health hazard to students. The toilets need to be fixed urgently to protect the students and the environment,” he said.
Mr Lesaso regretted that last financial year, a chunk of the ministry’s budget was unspent and had to be returned to the Ministry of Finance at the close of year.
Such funds could have been used to maintain schools like Itekeng, he said.
He challenged accounting officers to perform their duties to avoid such scenarios.
Mr Lesaso promised to do everything possible to ensure that the school’s ablution facilities were attended to as soon as possible.
Earlier, the school head Mr David Mfila had informed the assistant minister that no cyclic maintenance had ever been carried out at the institution since its construction in 1984.
He said it had been earmarked for maintenance last year but at the last minute, school authorities learnt that there was shortage of funds.
“The school is neglected and we are bearing the brunt of that neglect,” he said.
Mr Mfila said the dilapidated and oversubscribed institution had severe shortage of accommodation for teachers alongside insufficient staff.
The school had no guidance and counselling room against the background of psychosocial issues such as illicit drug use, he said.
Mr Mfila said as a result, one office in the staffroom had to be used for guidance and counselling forcing the 97 teachers to cram into the remaining space.
He called for construction of another junior secondary school in Gantsi.
For his part director regional operations – Ghanzi, Mr Baamogeleng Moteti said the appalling situation at Itekeng Junior Secondary school was worsened by vandalism.
Kgosi Annah Rankho of Ghanzi called for prioritisation of the school’s maintenance to create a conducive environment for teaching and learning.
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