GABORONE, Jan. 18– The first school term of the year in Botswana started on Tuesday after the Christmas and New Year holidays, but some schools were unable to reopen due to flooding in most parts of the country. Speaking on national television on Tuesday, Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education Nono Kgafela-Mokoka said schools affected may not be ready to open because of flooding and other factors, and should delay reopening and continue to provide regular feedback on the situation until it normalizes. Botswana has received widespread rainfall since mid-December 2024, with some areas experiencing heavier rains resulting in flash flooding. These floods have inundated some schools or blocked their access. Education officials have advised that schools in areas affected by heavy flooding should not reopen until they are deemed safe. The minister said most of the affected schools are government schools in rural areas with poor road networks and drainage systems. Classrooms in some villages are reported to be fully submerged in floodwaters. She said regional operations directors, together with the Disaster Management Committees at the affected localities, are closely monitoring the situation and taking appropriate action. The ministry will continue to provide regular feedback on the situation, the minister said. The Botswana Meteorological Services have forecasted above-average rainfall in most areas of the country during the current rainy season, which is expected to continue until March. The department said a tropical cyclone, now on the coast of Mozambique, is expected to move eastward in the coming days, potentially bringing more rain to Botswana.
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