17 Jul 2014

Companies or individuals are not allowed to adopt a school on religious or political grounds, an official of the Botswana Education Hub, Mr Billy Loeto has said.

Mr Loeto said the decision was taken to avoid people promoting their own propaganda. He was speaking during a press conference on the preparations of the 25 Kilometers’ Desert Bush Walk Winter 2014, which is the brainchild of Archibald Ngakayagae and a USA Peace Corp, Ms Amy Benson.

The main objective of the walk which would take place in Jwaneng on July 26 would see participants on a bush trail from Jwaneng to Sese to raise funds towards the construction of a creative learning centre that would house a library and hands-on/carpentry learning lab for Sese Primary School at the village.

The walk would also promote and brand Jwaneng and its environs as a tourism destination for both local and international tourists, under the cultural and sports tourism portfolio. 

Mr Loeto said so far about 300 primary schools were adopted by over 200 companies since the Adopt-A-School initiative was launched in 2011 calling for both public and private participation to deliver quality education in schools. 

He noted that companies that wished to adopt a school were expected to commit their resources, time and expertise adding that the main challenge they encountered as the education hub was that companies were unable to distinguish between donation and adoption. 

Mr Ngakayagae, Majwe principal public relations officer, said the gesture was also in support of the country’s Vision 2016 pillar of a compassionate and caring nation and that of an educated and informed nation and Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s Adopt- A-School initiative.

Also, he explained that events such as the Desert Bush Walk-Winter 2014 that local and international tourists could attracted, not only to Jwaneng Mine but to the Kgalagadi Desert.

He added that the walk would also help to strengthen the Kgalagadi Desert and Botswana Brand to both local and international audiences. 

In addition, Mr Ngakayagae said the walk would also promote Botswana Tourism Organisation and Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) objectives. 

He said more than 800 students would benefit from the employable skills, sense of entrepreneurism, the confidence to be self-sufficient and much needed skills for life that the center will offer.

Also, he pointed out that the centre would work to combat alcoholism, gender inequality, gender-based violence, transactional sex, poverty, unemployment and the transmission of HIV/AIDS, all of which were on the rise in Sese. 

The aim, he said was to raise P200 000 for now but the project worth more than that adding that the walk was one event which was part of the fund raising activities. 

For her part, Ms Benson, who is an American Peace Corps Volunteer explained that the centre would help develop critical thinking skills of the 800 students and that there has been a wonderful response from the business community locally and across the border like in South Africa. She said it was hoped that the project would contribute to the learners’ future. ENDS