04 Aug 2014

Deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Mr Maotoanong Sebina, has encouraged pupils to strive for academic excellence if they harbour ambition to become meaningful contributors to the success of Botswana.

Mr Sebina said at a donation of school uniform and stationery to Magotlhwane Primary School in Southern District on August 1 that the gesture should act as a catalyst for students to give out their best in their studies and further develop the country.

“Education is the shield that you can use to fed off all that life throws at you and the gesture by Deeds Registry, which is a department within my ministry, should come as a challenge to everyone of you to move a step further from where you are at the moment and do extremely well in your education,” he said.

The donation, he stated was also a way of rallying behind not only the national vision to care for the less privileged but also heeding to President Lit. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama administration’s vision to have government departments engage in community building activities.

On others, Mr Sebina urged parents and Batswana who graced the occasion to support the lands and housing ministry nationwide campaign and register their plots.

The Registrar of Deeds, Ms Tiny Keseabetswe echoed Mr Sebina’s words saying they were privileged as a department to be rendered the platform to give.

She said it gave her department total fulfilment to have achieved the feat especially that they did not have sponsors to foot the bill for the gifts.

Chief Education Officer for Moshupa Sub-region, Mr Gofenyang Ponoesele said the support shown by Deeds Registry was pleasing and in line with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s vision to have everybody rally behind children’s education, which he said remained vital in carrying Botswana forward.

However, Mr Ponoesele was not happy about some of the punishment meted on students which he said left a lot to be desired and needed to be stopped immediately.

“I am not against disciplining children but the administration of such punishment should be within the accepted limit,” he said.

Thus, he encouraged teachers to create conducive learning environment so that students can be motivated in their day to day learning.

Magotlhwane Primary School head, Ms Lorato Laletsang who could not hide her happiness said the gesture by the Deeds Registry was a challenge to other government departments to emulate it and make a difference in the lives of fellow Batswana. ENDS