06 Mar 2025

Children’s rights are a priority as they are the most vulnerable members of the society.

Replying to the debate to the presentation of the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education recently, Minister Dr Nono Kgafela-Mokoka said children were the voiceless therefore important to put them at the forefront of all issues advocated for by legislators.

She said the ministry was equally concerned with establishing child friendly homes and schools as well as worker friendly environment. She said the new government was faced with challenges, therefore it was time to pursue the spirit of self reliant in the right and appropriate manner.

She said it was time to rebuild the nation in every aspect and utilise the little budget to give direction to the education system. Dr Kgafela-Mokoka said education was a weapon against poverty and closing societal gaps. She said one of the priorities was to focus on the vulnerable and marginalised groups of the society.

On curriculum and education with production, Dr Kgafela-Mokoka said indeed it was true that academic education must include vocational courses.

“Every child matters and every child shall be skilled under the Umbrella for Democratic Change,” she said.

In his response to the Ministry’s proposed budget, Maun West Member of Parliament, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama said it was necessary to invest more on education as it was a foundation to any economy.

He said early-childhood education was equally paramount to the development of an economy. Mr Hikuama said there was shortage of teachers and other resources for early childhood education. He advised government that the mandate of early-childhood education must be assigned private schools, as they were well equipped.

He said inadequate distribution of resources contributed to under performance and poor results in most schools of the rural communities. Mr Hikuama said child labour, poverty and other social ills could only be reduced through education.

MP for Tonota Mr Gaelefele Sedombo applauded Shashe River School for coming first in the 2024 BGCSE results. He said despite continuous electricity cut disturbing studies, the school did well through the guidance of the teaching staff, school management and the teachers. He said there was a need to improve on special education by providing the requisite resources including qualified teachers.

Mr Tiroeaone Ntsima of Francistown East said that early-childhood was the foundation to building a responsible child interested in education and desist from engaging in unruly behaviour. He said resource constraints and learning under conditions where students were exposed to harsh weather conditions affected performance.

He said Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education (FCTVE) has a capacity of 5 000 but admits only 500 students, therefore it was important to support the institution to operate optimally.

Mr Leepetswe Lesedi of Serowe South said teachers were working under challenging conditions, but only driven by passion and desire to develop and empower a child. He said Moitlamo Junior Secondary School in Moiyabana was congested. He said the hostel accommodated 1 311 students in an 800 capacity thence he appealed for expansion of the students hostel.

MP Mogorosi Mosanana of Kanye East said it was important that children on early-childhood education be provided with supplementary feeding to support their initial stage of growth. He said Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) be considered for a better allowances as they play a pivotal role in education.

Kgatleng East MP, Mr Mabuse Pule said it was necessary to have a children targeted budget hence, child welfare must be a stand alone ministry. He said the ministry be empowered with social workers and retooled to be at par with emerging challenges.

He said the National Children Council must be empowered to fully execute its mandate and support the ministry’s mandate.Mr Pule said he was concerned by cases of child abuse, adding that the damage to schools infrastructure as a result of vandalism by students, and indiscipline were a challenge. ENDS