~~~ The Voice online : "GABORONE - The Ministry of Education has acquired 19 buses to be used by students during educational tours.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony at Glen Valley in Gaborone, Minister of Education, Mr Jacob Nkate, said the buses were an answer to the nation’s cry for the ministry to stop transporting students in open trucks.
The use of open trucks had parents in an uproar as they said the mode of transport exposed their children to danger. Not only did the trucks result in lost student lives, they said, the vehicles exposed the children to cold during winter travel.
Minister Nkate said though the 19 buses were not enough to cover all the schools in Botswana it was important for schools to share buses where possible.
He also said getting a bus for each school would not be cost effective as the buses will not be used daily.
As for schools in remote areas where the terrain requires four-wheel drive vehicles, the ministry will, unfortunately, continue to use trucks."
Speaking at the handing over ceremony at Glen Valley in Gaborone, Minister of Education, Mr Jacob Nkate, said the buses were an answer to the nation’s cry for the ministry to stop transporting students in open trucks.
The use of open trucks had parents in an uproar as they said the mode of transport exposed their children to danger. Not only did the trucks result in lost student lives, they said, the vehicles exposed the children to cold during winter travel.
Minister Nkate said though the 19 buses were not enough to cover all the schools in Botswana it was important for schools to share buses where possible.
He also said getting a bus for each school would not be cost effective as the buses will not be used daily.
As for schools in remote areas where the terrain requires four-wheel drive vehicles, the ministry will, unfortunately, continue to use trucks."