Boarding students at Okavango Junior Secondary School in Gumare are expected to enjoy improved living conditions following the completion of a P64.9 million infrastructure expansion project that has delivered new hostels and ablution facilities.
The development marks the end of a 15-month construction programme that began in March 2025 and forms part of government’s broader efforts to upgrade education infrastructure, particularly in remote areas where boarding schools play a vital role in improving access to education.
Assistant Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Keoagile Atamelang, said the successful completion of the project demonstrated what could be achieved through proper planning and implementation, adding that investing in modern school infrastructure remained a priority for government.
The project was implemented under the Development Manager (DM) model by Bigen SPV and DM5 at a total cost of P64.9 million. It involved the construction of separate 96-bed hostels for boys and girls, together with two ablution blocks designed to improve accommodation and sanitation standards for boarding students.
Atamelang said the investment would address infrastructure challenges that had affected the school for years, noting that the existing boarding facilities and ablution blocks had deteriorated with age and no longer adequately served the growing needs of learners. He said creating a safe and conducive learning environment required more than classrooms, stressing that decent accommodation and sanitation facilities were equally important in supporting students’ academic performance and overall well-being.
Okavango Junior Secondary School currently has an enrolment of 1,347 learners, including 283 boarders made up of 156 girls and 127 boys, all of whom stand to benefit from the improved facilities.
Bigen SPV Development Manager, Jubilee Mokgosi, said the project had been delivered within the agreed timeframe and budget, a reflection of the collaboration between the contractor, consultants and government stakeholders. He said the Okavango District Council had already issued an occupation certificate following completion of the works, leaving only the formal handover before the facilities could be fully occupied.
The completion of the project comes nearly a year after Atamelang toured major infrastructure developments across the Okavango District to assess progress on government-funded projects. During that visit, he inspected sections of the A3 road corridor, including the Nokaneng-Gumare, Gumare-Mohembo and Mohembo-Gudigwa roads, where he underscored the importance of infrastructure in driving economic growth and improving service delivery. Beyond providing additional accommodation, the new facilities are expected to improve the welfare of boarding students and create an environment more conducive to learning.
