03 May 2016

Survivors of the Matsha Senior Secondary School tragic accident that claimed nine lives last November are now receiving vocational training at Molepolole College of Education.

The second phase of the programme, dubbed Kweneng District Skills Development Programme (KDSDP), was launched on Friday after phase one was completed in March this year.

Launching the programme, Minister of Education and Skills Development Dr Unity Dow encouraged the former students to take education seriously. She explained that if they chose education, they would beat poverty and  contribute to the economy.

She reiterated that it was imperative for them to make wise choices and maintain high levels of self-discipline. The minister further challenged them to read to keep abreast with issues and increase their scope of knowledge.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development Ms Nnosang Mohutsiwa said after the tragic accident, there was need to design a programme for survivors to offer them psychosocial support. 

The first phase of the programme offered counselling and psychosocial support to heal from the effects of the accident. It lasted from January to March.

She further explained that phase two was geared towards giving them vocational training skills in music, drama, theatre and poetry, among others. 

The programme which will end in June, is meant to equip all involved with skills that can earn them a living.

Healing, she said, was also facilitated through excursions to different areas. She said that the former students were part of this year’s career fair. About 110 students from 20 villages participated in the KDSD programme.

Debswana head of corporate affairs Ms Esther Kanaimba-Senai said that they saw the need to collaborate with government, De Beers Sightholders and Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB) to make a contribution towards rehabilitation and skills development of the victims.

She said not only were the students traumatised by the accident, but the loss of their colleagues was bound to have left permanent scars in their hearts. She said the programmes were meant to assist them in the healing process. She therefore urged them to embrace the programmes wholeheartedly and make the most of them.

The sponsors also donated P750 000 which will go towards programmes such as drama, music, pottery, art and painting. Ends