25 Mar 2025

The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education is currently in the process of rationalising its functional structure to align with its new mandate.

Answering a question in Parliament on Monday, Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Dr Nono Kgafela-Mokoka stated that the process involved a review of the functions of departments and regional offices, as well as the transfer of certain responsibilities from other ministries, particularly child welfare functions from the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs.

She explained that the two ministries had begun preparations for this initiative.

The goal, she said, was to establish 31 districts in alignment with the existing ones to facilitate the provision of services; however, this she said was dependent upon the availability of funds to resource the additional 21 districts.

Dr Kgafela-Mokoka noted that the role of having to establish the fully-fledged administration wing at primary schools falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs. However, she said they would engage with their sister ministry on this matter, as they considered it a positive initiative regarding the management of service delivery at that level.

She also stated that the ongoing rationalisation exercise would address all issues related to the movement of relevant functions, including those housed at the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs and at the district level.

Nevertheless, she said all infrastructure maintenance and the construction of primary schools would remain under the purview of the local government ministry.

She said the role of education secretaries was certainly part of the discussion, but it had not yet been finalised. MP for Maun East, Mr Goretetse Kekgonegile had asked the minister to brief Parliament on the efforts being made to establish ministerial departments and units that would enhance the ministry’s performance nationwide.

Mr Kekgonegile also wanted the minister to clarify the detailed plans for re-demarcating regions into districts in light of the national paradigm shift regarding the intended goals of decentralisation.

Also, he wanted to know the ministry’s plans and timelines for establishing a fully-fledged administration wing with administrative officers at primary schools.

Mr Kekgonegile also asked the ministry’s perspective on transferring the management of classrooms (Education Secretary office) from the councils to the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, while retaining only the facilities aspect within the councils. ENDS