25 Mar 2013

Debswana  Jwaneng mine over the weekend handed over a multi-purpose hall worth over P600 000 to Kgosi Mpe Junior Secondary school.

The facility is named 'The David Sebina Hall'. Mr David Sebina is the late Cut 8 Project operational readiness manager, who founded and spearheaded the project.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, held in conjunction with the 2012 Junior Secondary Examination results celebration, Jwaneng mine senior manage r - sustainability, Mr Tefo Molosiwa said the donation was an indication of the company's commitment to improving the education sector in Botswana.

“This donation is a symbol of our commitment to improving education in this country. I implore you to cherish it and look after it,” he said.

He noted that Jwaneng mine had incorporated the Adopt-a-School-Initiative even before government established it. This, he said, was evidenced by the company’s projects towards this gesture, dating as far back as 2008. 

He said the school was fortunate to have benefitted from Jwaneng mine’s Corporate Social Investment (CSI) through a P15 000 donation for the 2008 prize giving ceremony, upgrading of the school outdoor kitchen with an undisclosed amount, donation of lap desks through the Cut 8 project, P10 000 worth of library books as well as the donation of educational television equipment through which Jwaneng mine partnered with Multichoice Botswana.

He said the hall would provide a safe and dignified place of gathering for school functions and ceremonies, which will consequently improve the learning environment.

To the students, he said “this hall and other benefits that have come to Kgosi Mpe from Jwaneng Mine, is to create a conducive learning environment for you so that you can perform even better”.

Mr Molosiwa further cautioned students against social ills that could affect their studies and impact negatively on their lives. He encouraged them to work towards being responsible citizens and desist from negative energies that could destroy their lives.

When welcoming guests, Kgosi Mpe school head, Ms Sennana Ntesang indicated that the school was faced with a shortage of classrooms.

However, she had said commitment and hard work by both students and teachers ensured the school remained in position one regionally for the past 12 years, with a 90 per cent or above pass rate except in 2011 where the school obtained an 88.99 per cent for grades A, B, and C.

She said the multi-purpose hall would go a long way in bridging this shortage gap and contributing towards better results. ENDS