GABORONE - Asssitant Minister of Local Government, Ms Botlhogile Tshireletso paid a surprise visit to Phillip Moshotle Primary School in Gaborone where she decried lack of assistance to the needy pupils.

The minister said the arrangement is that guidance and counseling teachers should liaise with the social workers in order to assist the needy children to acquire school uniform.

She said this after she met with two pupils who explained that they have never been supplied with school uniform in addition to food rations that they receive.

Ms Tshireletso said both the school management and the social workers should work together to assist the students without any further delay.

According to the School Head, Mrs Elizabeth Ramolemane, the school has one needy student and 29 orphans.

Mrs Ramolemane complained about acute shortage of accommodation for the teachers saying only one teacher resides in Gaborone whilst the rest commute from places such as Mochudi, Molepolole, Oodi and Mmopane.

She said there are some staff houses which were built for the teachers but have been allocated to other departments.

She also reported that they dont have a receptionist and grounds man for the school.

At Block 8 kgotla, the Court President, Mr Kgari Moitlobo told the minister that since the merger of the Botswana Police Service and the Local Police there are no police officers to administer corporal punishment.

Mr Moitlobo also complained about shortage of office space as they are still accommodated in a private house.

He appealed for the acceleration of the construction of Block 8 customary court as a plot is already in place.

The assistant minister also visited the Block 8 clinic where nursing sister, Mrs Nyaladzi Mphinyane said everything was fine except for the maintenance of the clinic. She said the ceiling and floor now require a heavy maintenance schedule.

She said the clinic was temporarily closed in the past three to four months because of the H1N1 situation.

Mrs Mphinyane also complained about the shortage of consultation rooms saying they often have to use other rooms not designed for consultation.BOPA