14 Jul 2016

Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Unity Dow, has thanked teachers who double as coaches for their school teams, saying they play an important role in the development of sport.

She said teachers had shown a the spirit of devotion to sport development, despite challenges they faced.

“Teachers in Botswana are doing a great job. They don’t teach inside classrooms only but also help in development of children’s sporting talents.  Thus I wish to convey my gratitude to you teachers,” she said on Wednesday.

Dr Dow was speaking during official opening of Botswana Primary School Sports Association (BOPSSA) national ball sports competition in Gaborone. 

She said apart from being competition, sports also helped to mold discipline in children and promoted friendship and teamwork.

South East, South, North West, North East, Kweneng, Kgatleng, Kgalagadi, Central, Chobe and Ghanzi would be partaking in the competition that ends this weekend. 

BOPSSA president, Busani Segweni, said even though teachers were passionate about grassroots sports development, they were pained by difficulties they encountered when they wanted payment of claims for time spent coaching school teams.

BOPSSA, which was also celebrating its tenth anniversary was also lauded for having producing a number of athletes who went on to gain national prominence, including Nijel Amos and Tapiwa Gadibolae. ENDS