19 Mar 2013

The Botswana High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr Kenny Kapinga has told students that they have unlimited opportunities and it is upon them to do their best to broaden their horizons.

Speaking at the North West region student’s excellence awards held at Shakawe Senior Secondary School on Friday, he said students who received awards for excellence, showed that they were patriotic.

“You have done a great job and this shows that you love your country.” he said. He also said that they are fortunate as they were born in an era where technology is well advanced.

Turning to parents, Mr Kapinga said they should note that excellence was a three way partnership, for them, students and teachers therefore it was important to be supportive all the time.

He advised parents to always make sure that they buy necessary items for students and must sacrifice so that their children have everything for school.

Furthermore, he said he was discouraged by students who continue to vandalise school property, noting that it was a disgrace and waste of government funds.

He also encouraged students to have good morals and shy away from alcohol and smoking.

About 70 students received awards for categories such as best performing student in each subject, and the overall best student who beat all the students in the region for secondary and primary school examinations respectively.

Both primary and secondary schools which improved in the examinations and those which performed best were also given prizes.

Shakawe Community Junior Secondary School (CJSS) got the best performing school in Okavango while the best performing school in Ngami was scooped by Tsodilo. They both won a trophy, a certificate and P20 000.

Pudologo Mokhawa, a student from Boyei Primary School in Maun, who is now doing Form One at Moeti Junior Secondary School, scooped the overall performer.

The out of school learning student, Kuda Madzete also from Maun, scooped an overall performer for the best student.

They both walked away with a trophy, certificate and P1 500.

When giving closing remarks, the councillor for Shakawe Ms Karungu Moduelo encouraged students to continue working hard to improve further.

She gave parents an example  of an out of school student Kuda Madzete, who scooped an award, saying that they should encourage students who dropped from school to continue with their studies and she also applauded Shakawe CJSS for scooping an award. ENDS