27 Aug 2014

Acting Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi says orientation of Batswana students destined for China marked the Botswana-China educational cooperation as well as the beginning of an educational and cultural journey for students.


Speaking at a farewell reception for Batswana students who have been granted Chinese scholarships on August 25, Mr Masisi said the scholarship was a major feat, putting them in great stead for the exciting challenge of learning and exploring a new language and country.


He told the students that they should consider themselves fortunate for winning the award which came after a rigorous selection process to choose the most deserving applicants academically, socially and otherwise.


Minister Masisi implored them to make learning a top priority and to remember that for the duration of their stay in China, they would be ambassadors of Botswana.

That would make the government, sponsors, Batswana and their families and friends proud, said Mr Masisi.
 He said the ceremony was to celebrate the students who had been awarded the scholarships as well as to celebrate the bilateral friendship of the two nations which went back four decades.

Mr Masisi said besides the more than 70 scholarships each year, the Chinese government has also built and adopted two primary schools in Maun and Serowe and a Multi-Purpose Youth Centre in Gaborone.


For his part, the Ambassador of China, Mr Zheng Zhuqiang said the 44 students would study for a bachelor’s degrees to doctorates with majors in various subjects such as clinical medicine, Chinese language, international relations and business management, among others.


He said the Chinese scholarship had been awarded to 22 students, and that 11 were under the Confucius Institute Scholarship and another 11 were exchange students from Chinese Studies at the University of Botswana who would spend their junior year at Shanghai University.


Mr Zheng said bilateral cooperation on education and human resources development between China and Botswana started when the Chinese government offered scholarships and training opportunities to Botswana in the 1980s.

He noted that more than 250 Botswana students have studied in China under the programme and that more than 600 personnel have been trained in China in various areas. 


He said their study in China would give them an opportunity to witness its history and development. Ends