29 Jan 2015

Former Mantlwaneng presenter, Moitse Moatshe (15) together with Bianca Nhapata, the daughter of a Zimbabwean expatriate engineer based in Gaborone, obtained a merit in the just released junior certificate examination results.

The last time education ministry registered a merit - the highest grade in JC results - was in 2012, when there were five merits, while in 2013 students failed to obtain a single merit mark. 

Moitse attended Selepa JSS in Francistown while Bianca went to Mosewalepula JSS in Gaborone, both schools operating under the auspices of the government.

Besides having had a stint with Botswana television as a presenter for a children’s programme called Mantlwaneng, Moitse has also been doing well in regional competitions as she won awards in both SADC and multi-choice competitions The Kumakwane-born student attributed her academic excellence to hard work.

“I have a dream to be a better person and I work hard towards achieving that, but I did not anticipate to obtain a merit; my aim was an A grade, as such It came as a surprise,” she said in an interview.

Asked about her academic excellence, she said one had to deprive themselves of valueless pursuits and that they must not view a school as a place that you go to but rather as something that existed within them.

“I took time off from social media, I prayed and asked for wisdom from God and I enjoyed endless support from my parents,” she said. 

With Seven A’s and two B’s in Agriculture and Commerce, Moitse became the finest brain amongst her peers and thus her parents moved swiftly to take her to a private school to nurture her talent.

“I did not do well in Agriculture and Commerce because of the projects. There was too much rain here and it destroyed our plots,” she justified. 

Her Mother, Ms Thapelo Oageng-Moatshe, a former teacher and now a government officer in Francistown, said together with her husband they played a vital role in the child’s academic excellence. 

“My husband was also a teacher and he is now a librarian so our home is just like a school, we taught her at home and also worked closely with her teachers,” she said, adding that there were times when they recited inspirational quotes for the child.

On the other hand, Bainca, the daughter of the Zimbabwean mechanical engineer, shared a lot of similarities with Moitse, no doubt that she was the second best brain amongst her peers after Moitse.

Besides her passion for Christ and discipline, the student said she had a huge appetite for academics; hence she she has won several prizes at school and believes in putting maximum efforts in everything she does.

“She sleeps late and will never go to bed before she has finished whatever she is doing. We knew she was going to do well, but we did not expect her to obtain a merit, in fact, it came to us as a surprise,” said Bianca’s mother, Jennefer Nhapata. 

“We have also created a close family bond so that she opens up to us and we are able to discuss anything openly,” said the father, whereas Bianca said taking short notes in class and when studying was some of the best methods that helped her pass.  ENDS