05 Oct 2015

In an effort to embrace the spirit of self-reliance Kgalemang Motsete Junior Secondary School will host a fund raising dinner to meet some of the school’s necessities. The dinner is scheduled for the school hall on October 9.

The school head Ms Josephine Madikwe revealed that given that they have not been adopted by any entity they saw if necessary to embark on fundraising activities to help themselves. Proceeds from the fund raising dinner will be used to buy the school a mini-bus.

The former assistant minister of Education Mr Kgotla Autlwetse  is expected to officiate at the dinner. The initiative came after the school council realised that the students could not attend important educational fairs and other activities due to absence of reliable transport.

The school head said in cases where the government could not provide transport, the school would be left out of important events.

“The government is presently faced with financial constraints and due to that we cannot rely on the ministry of education for all our needs. We have ventured into numerous fundraising activities in order to run the school.”

Mrs Madikwe said they intend to buy computers for the school through the same efforts. She expressed delight in some of the members of the community who have joined hands with the school, and revealed that a resident, Mr Molao Letsididi had pledged an amount of P18 000 towards the project.

The school, according to Ms Madikwe will contribute another P18 000 and an amount of P36 000 will be used to buy computers. She said the computers will enhance the teaching and learning processes.

Ms Madikwe stated that they have in the past experienced shortage of classrooms and students being taught in outdoor shelters even under harsh weather conditions. She said such disturbing learning conditions have since come to an end.

“This was possible after the parents contributed money towards the refurbishing of outdoor shelters.” 

According to Ms Madikwe all the outdoor shelters in the school have been turned into closed classrooms to provide conducive learning environment. Ms Madikwe stated that other initiatives by the Parents Teachers Association to buy revision materials have been done.

Ms Madikwe said they want to restore the legacy that had since experienced a serious decline. According to the school head, the school over the past five years has declined from an 80.8 per cent pass rate in 2010 to 46.5 per cent in the 2014 junior certificate results.

Recently the school held a prize giving ceremony to award excellence for both students and teachers. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Dikabo Mogopodi, a researcher at Botswana Institute for Technology Research and Innovation commended parents for partaking in their children’s education.

She stated that success, like charity begins at home. Success of students lies in parents believing in them, she said. Dr Mogopodi emphasised the importance of parents’ involvement in children’s education adding that the world is too big for children to win through solo efforts.

She urged students to take their school work seriously and use it as a great chance to learn life skills. Ends