19 Sep 2016

The Ambassador of Japan to Botswana, Mr Masahiro Onishi has applauded the role played by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development in moulding children.

Speaking during a prize giving ceremony at Matshekge Senior Secondary on September 16, Mr Onishi said the ministry has engaged in various activities with the aim of empowering youth and students to play their role by meeting the ministry halfway by studying hard.

Mr Onishi said education was far more than what happens inside the classroom, and was about developing the talent of each student whilst respecting their individualities and applauded teachers for their efforts.

The ambassador further acknowledged the support shown by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture (MYSC)  for ensuring the development of young people into responsible future leaders, and said the two ministries deserved applause for ensuring that  great effort was being made to respond to the need of  education system in Botswana.

Mr Onishi, who is also a special representative to SADC, said this year was a memorable one as the country celebrates 50 years of independence and also marks the 50^th anniversary of Japan- Botswana diplomatic relations. 

Botswana, he said, has made significant strides in the educational front and the attempt to improve the quality of life was being reversed by HIV/AIDS. He urged students, teachers and parents to join hands with government, parastatals and civic organisations in an attempt to bring down the rate of infections. 

However, he said the greatest challenge facing the young generation across the world was youth unemployment that has become a threat to social, economic and political stability. 

MYSC, he stated, has come up with a comprehensive framework which ensures that citizens have equal access to the improvement of their lives and also provide opportunity for young people to share, explore and exchange experiences with other cultures.

The prize giving was held under the theme: Change of mindset: pursuit of excellence beyond 2016, which he said was most appropriate as it called for everyone’s transformation in the day to day academic approach  and that it was through transformation that excellence can be achieved.

Mr Onishi observed that the school’s performance has been declining over the years and attributed that to students’ lack of focus on studies characterised by truancy, teenage pregnancy and alcohol and drug abuse.

“As a student you need to be focused on school activities and avoid indulging in early sex and drug abuse if you want to excel in your school work”, he told the students.

Despite the challenge of poor results, he said there were indications that show great potential in the school demonstrated by Setswana and art departments where the two have placed the school in the map by obtaining positions one and two regionally and position two and four nationally.

Earlier, the school head Mr Baboloki Bajiti said from 2008 to 2015 the school has been experiencing decline in academic performance, but was doing well in activities such as sports regionally and nationally.

Mr Bajiti lamented lack of parental care which was a contributing factor to poor academic performance and teenage pregnancy in the school. ENDS