The Botswana Defense Force (BDF) Staff College in collaboration with Dulux Company have launched Gowa Junior Secondary School the renovation project, which for the longest time has been in a bad state, with vandalized classrooms, dirty and blocked ablutions and unfenced premises.
Speaking at the launch of the project, School Head Steven Morris said the school has an enrolment of 1 138 pupils, 971 of whom are boarding students and 338-day students. He said it has 70 teachers of which 11 are temporary, as well as 49 support staff of which 21 are also temporary basis.
Morris expressed concern about the vandalism of classrooms which highly affects academic performance. “The classrooms have been vandalised as student write and paint on the walls, the doors and windows have been destroyed making the teaching and learning environment unbearable especially in the winter season,” Morris said.
He added that donkeys and goats enter into the classrooms and leave dung all over as there are no doors and windows. “The community is also responsible for vandalising the school. They cut the school fence and let their livestock in to graze,” he said.
Furthermore, the situation of the ablutions is very bad as the toilets have been blocked by stones and sticks thrown inside. This has caused students to relieve themselves everywhere around the ablutions. Some students even take advantage of the situation and relieve themselves in the bushes and not return to class. He further expressed hope for change with the help coming from the Staff College and Dulux Company.
For his part, Lieutenant Colonel Kagiso Oahile from BDF Staff College said they found out about the state of the school on the national television and took it upon themselves to lend a helping hand.
He noted that their mandate is to encourage and support the education system from the grass root level in order to better the learning situation in Okavango and make the learning environment safe. The project is anticipated to be complete by the 15th of July with classrooms painted, new doors and windows fitted.
Lieutenant Oahile further added that they aim to also empower the community with painting skills to sustain their livelihoods. This as Dulux Company has donated paint and offered to assist some community members with painting skills which will be used to refurbish the dirty classroom walls. Upon completion, the beneficiaries will receive certificates of appreciation.
“The opportunity will be also given to the disabled in the community as we encourage equality and fairness,” Oahile added. He further encouraged the students to take care of their school after it has been revamped as it is where they will build a bright future at, together with the coming generation.
