09 Sep 2015

The chief education officer for the south region has applauded the organisors of Miss Kanye, adopt Seepapitso Senior Secondary School project for coming on board.

Speaking during the launch of the project in Kanye recently, Ms Maipelo Kesenye said stakeholder involvement was pivotal to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) turnaround strategy.

She said the ministry came up with the adopt-a-school initiative with a view to addressing the declining academic performance of schools. She said government could not afford to do it alone.

“The idea is for everyone to help us in any way they can, even if it means coming to teach our students how to ululate,” she explained.

Ms Kesenye said the initiative saved the government and the ministry money and resources that could have ordinarily been expended on the schools. With regards to religion, she cautioned schools to be careful who they pick to impart the word of God to learners.

She said not every preacher does the will of God, and warned schools to sanction the preachers first before they offer their services. Meanwhile, the education chief has exhibited congruence by joining the group behind the initiative and promised to enlist the services of a university lecturer to add value to the project.

She has nonetheless challenged the group to extend their services to Seepapitso feeder schools to ensure students enrol for higher education polished.

On behalf of the school, Mr Andrew Modisagarekwe said challenges facing his school were many, chief among them being student indiscipline which he said has given the school a bad name around the village.

“The school took position 24 out of 32 schools across the nation so we need your support to turn it around,” he pleaded.

He said they have students who have represented the nation internationally in sports, adding that with more support good things would come out of the school. Mr Modisagarekwe also decried that the number of needy and vulnerable students were soaring and thanked stakeholders for coming to their aid.

Meanwhile, the transformational management consultant and former student, Mr Taolo Moshaga advised learners to focus on their studies. He said they were competing with the rest of the world. He said other nations were taking their studies serious.

“You should be modelling yourselves on academic star performers around the world rather than playing the type of music you are playing now. Use the Internet for research.

“Take advantage of the fact that Botswana is the only country in the world where you don’t pay a thing for your education. But know that economically the country will never be the same as it used to be in the past,” he said.

He furthermore urged learners not to yield to the pressures of the outside world, but to channel their energies towards their studies. “You don’t need a name to be the best you can be in life, stop worrying about now focus on the future,” he said.

One of the organisers, Ms Caroline Dululu said they would select 20 students from the event to use as peer educators. She said most of the students have the potential but lack discipline.

For his part, Kgosi Kitso Kelosiwang encouraged the community to support teachers. He said their support would capacitate teachers to deliver on their mandate. However, he advised organisers to also pick well behaved but moderate performers as role models in order to reinforce positive behaviour.  

Kgosi Kelosiwang thanked Motse Lodge, Sedibeng Lodge, Bokgeleke flair and the community for sponsoring the event. Ends