06 May 2013

Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi says Moshupa Secondary School alumni have shown solidarity and appreciation to Batswana, students, teachers, Ministry of Education and Skills Development, and the government for the education they acquired during difficult times.

Speaking at the hand over ceremony of three computers and a printer worth P15 000 by the alumni, Mr Masisi said during their time, it was not possible for government to educate students as it has done in recent years.

Mr Masisi, who is also MP for Moshupa, said government spends over P13 billion annually on employees’ salaries and noted that while this was inadequate, it also spends over P10 billion on development.

He said while the alumni were still attending school, the ratio of expenditure on salaries to development was skewed in favour of development as the economy was doing better than it is doing now.

“As a result of short fall, the alumni felt compelled and moved to come and also contribute. This noble venture should be emulated by all alumni of various schools countrywide”, he said.

The minister appealed to current students of Moshupa Secondary School to understand, appreciate and recognize that they are going through their education and their growth during difficult times.

Mr Masisi encouraged students to study hard and do more with the little resources that they have.

On other issues, Mr Masisi pleaded with parents to remember that they have sent their children to school and urged them to habitually visit schools to check on students’ performance and their learning environment.

For her part, Moshupa Secondary School Alumni chairperson, Ms Ontlametse Sebonego said the education at schools in Botswana in recent years has been surrounded by controversy and uncertainty.

She said these uncertainties and challenges affected students directly resulting in lawlessness, loss of hope and dampening of spirits which could be a result in former students failing in their civic duty and becoming spectators of the unfortunate state of affairs.

Ms Sebonego however noted that as former students, they decided to come together and engage in efforts to raise funds and reach out to students in times of need. ENDS