18 Nov 2014

The marketing and public relations officer at Botswana Education Hub, Mr Oarabile Phefo says partnerships between government and private companies are vital for the education system.

Giving a keynote address at Kaudwane Primary School prize giving ceremony on November 14, Mr Phefo hailed the partnership the school hadestablished with the Leopard Ecology and Conservation as well as the Ghaghoo mine through the adopt-a-school programme.

He said such partnerships are a remedy for poor performances especially in schools situated in rural areas as government cannot shoulder the burden of educating the nation alone.

“Such partnerships should be conserved at all costs and any difference should be addressed quickly to prevent the marriage from breaking down,” he said. 

Mr Phefo said they have no doubt that after such a partnership, Kaudwane primary school will see a change of fortunes in its performance.

He also hailed companies that have adopted schools, saying it was a good thing that after the adopt-a-school programme was initiated just two years ago, more than 250 companies had willingly adopted schools across the country.

He said such companies had already spent around P300 million in schools they have adopted, which he said was a relief to government as she would now shift the funds to other areas of priority.  

He however, advised that such companies do not adopt school because they have a lot of money, but because they have the future of students and the education system at heart.

Mr Phefo urged parents to play their role by ensuring that students do not abscond from school.  He also appreciated the efforts by Kaudwane primary school teachers for their hunger to see the school performing well, despite working deep in a rural area.

For her part, the Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Projects coordinator at Ghaghoo mine, Ms Ontitile Zimona said since they adopted Kaudwane primary school, they have completed general infrastructure maintenance of the structures as well as wiring the classrooms while still awaiting a generator to power them.

She also promised that they would extend the administration block next year as the existing one is too small to accommodate the whole staff.  Ms Zimona also said they sponsor yearly school trips for students which are an eye opener for them.

Leopard Conservation and Ecology also sponsors annual trips for the top three completing students in the school which covers their accommodation. ENDS