26 Jun 2016

Member of Parliament for Kanye North, Mr Patrick Ralotsia has called on students to make hay while the sun shines and give up wayward behaviour that could ruin their future.

The Kanye North lawmaker, who is also the Minister of Agriculture said during a ceremony to award top six achievers at Seepapitso Senior School for 2015 recently in Kanye that students’ destinies lies in their hands.

 “Your destiny is in your hands; you make it or break it. Nobody can live life in your stead. As parents and teachers we can only provide you with guidance,” he said.

Particularly worrying to Mr Ralotsia was a band of students who bunk classes, drink alcohol and smoke marijuana.

Mr Ralotsia, a former teacher himself, was also not impressed by some irresponsible parents whom he said sell drugs to students and in the process destroy destinies.

Presenting gifts of heifers, Minister Ralotsia said the gesture was intended to spur students on and inspire academic excellence.

“By this gesture, I also want you to venture into farming as per the rich Setswana culture,” he said promising the best of the best students for 2016 academic year will be awarded two heifers.

One of the recipients of the heifers, Karabo Ramosamo who garnered 47 points for his BGCSE thanked the minister and the government for supporting academic excellence.

He said education is the key corner stone that mould and pave way towards a successful future.

Ramosamo who was also awarded P1 000 by Mr Lemogang Kwape for best marks in Chemistry also encouraged others to choose friends wisely and work hard .

“It is not by coincidence that five of us are from the same class. We challenged each other, worked very hard and wanted excellence. If I can do it, everybody can do it,” he said.

Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MOESD) South region director, Mr Acro Maseko commended Ralotsia family for their noble gesture.

He said the MOESD welcomed the gesture which he noted was in-line with his ministry’s adopt a school initiative which fosters partnerships within the education sector.

Mr Maseko said with the ever increasing number of interventions by both the government and community members, only the sky could limit students’ ambitions.

The six; Karabo Leotloba, Tlotlo Mosemeki, Gorata Modukanele, Karabo Ramosamo, Gorata Major and Thabiso Mokgweetsi scored between 46 and 48 and were each awarded a heifer courtesy of Mr Ralotsia and some farmers in the Southern District. Ends