04 Jul 2016

Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Gladys Kokorwe has commended Mabaila Foundation for its noteworthy contribution to the education sector.

Speaking during the launch of the academic excellence awards for Mogoditshane schools recently, Ms Kokorwe said government recognises the importance of developing highly skilled young Batswana, hence the Ministry of Education and Skills Development receives a large share of the recurrent budget every year. 

She further explained that government has also embarked on education reforms through the Education and Training sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP).  

The reforms, she said aim at providing an overall policy and strategic framework for education and training.

Meanwhile, she highlighted that Botswana Examination Council’s (BEC) role was to administer the High Achievers Awards, meant to motivate students to put extra effort in their studies. 

Nevertheless, Ms Kokorwe said despite all this, government still recognises that full and complete development of the education sector would ultimately happen when all Batswana play their part in shaping young Batswana students. Thus, she said government would continue to promote, welcome and support all initiatives aimed at assisting students to be globally competitive.

She therefore, made a plea to parents asking them to play an active role in their children’s education.

For his part, the founder of the Mabaila Foundation, Mr Tshepang Mabaila explained that the excellence award for Mogoditshane schools came about after a decline in academic performance in the country,.

Thus, he said the foundation felt compelled to turn the situation around and play a part.

He further explained that the awards would run for two years as a pilot programme after which there would be reviewed for improvement. The excellence awards will comprise of a prestigious floating trophy for the best school and P5 000 prize money and P1 000 for the overall best student and a trophy.

Furthermore, best student form five will earn a scholarship for Masters Degree at a university of their choice, while the best student in form three will walk away with P10 000 and a trophy.

The best teacher, senior schools will be awarded P20 000 pula. ENDS