21 Aug 2014

Ministry of Education and Skills Development employees have been urged to take sport seriously as it enhances productivity in the work place.

Botswana African Youth Games Organising Committee (BAYGOC) chief executive officer, Tuelo Serufho said sport had more benefits as it reduced absenteeism in the work place; promote healthy lifestyles and also reduced costs to pay private practitioners.

Speaking during the official opening of the National Thuto Games held in Maun, he said developed countries such as Australia recognised the importance of sport hence it took a decision to include sport unit under the office of the prime minister.

He further said employees were monitored to ensure they fully participated in sports activities so that they could provide quality service delivery.

He urged employees to show commitment and take the thuto games seriously as they were meant to promote wellness and good health as well as the spirit of cooperation and sportsmanship among employees. 

Serufho said games gave ministry staff the opportunity to participate in sporting activities as a way of instilling healthy lifestyle changes adding a healthy work force was vital in the work place as customers’ expectations were met. 

He also praised the ministry for hosting their games in Maun noting that the district was an area with wealth of talent in terms of sport performance and development in the country. 

He mentioned veterans like Glody Dube and Amantle Montsho whom he said they lifted the country’s flag high internationally.

Serufho also appealed to teachers to develop the spirit of volunteerism and assist students to realise their talent in sports so that they could end up becoming professional athletes and in the process making fortunes. 

He said sport was a profession which touches the lives of many through employment creation. Serufho cited an example about the Jamaican 100 metres sprinter, Usain Bolt saying he has offices in Jamaica and America which had created jobs for the locals.

He also appreciated the active role played by the ministry in the Youth African Games noting that they supported the event financially.

For his part, the deputy permanent secretary in the education ministry, Kgopotso Ramoroka said the idea to host wellness was initiated by government in order to educate and increase awareness of the importance of healthy lifestyles and also to promote a healthy workforce in the work place.

He said the event was important as it would afford staff an opportunity to be educated on different aspects of staff wellness, work-life balance and engage them in different types of fitness training. He thanked the organisers of the event and assured them a great support.

Meanwhile over 500 participants took part in various sporting codes and activities such as athletics, football, netball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, ballroom dance, tug of war, three legged race, egg and spoon race, needle race, sack race, beauty pageant and aerobics. 

The theme of the event was “My Wellness commitment, key to service delivery”. ENDS