21 Sep 2016

As part of the Japanese mandate to contribute towards early childhood development, the Japanese Embassy has donated a pre-school block to Hunhukwe Primary School in the Kgalagadi District.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Hunhukwe on September 20, Japanese ambassador to Botswana Mr Masahiro Onishi said the donation was under the Japanese Grant scheme called the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects.

Mr Onishi said the Hunhukwe project was the 39th that the Japanese embassy has undertaken in Botswana under the scheme since 1997.

He said he was optimistic that the project will highly enhance the Hunhukwe community’s early childhood education since there were no reception classes in the village prior to the construction of the donated block.

He emphasised the importance of early childhood education indicating that not only did it help the child to build a foundation for primary education, but it also allowed the child to gain social skills through interaction with peers.

“Pre-school education is fundamental as it equips children with the basics needed by children to prosper in their academic life and there is increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to pre-school and, more important, they learn how to socialise and get along with other children,” he said.

The diplomat therefore encouraged parents to enroll their children at pre-schools before starting primary education.

Kgalagadi District Council chairperson, Mr Justice Nkwane commended the Japanese government for the contribution in uplifting the education standards in the area.

He said the pre-school block came at a time when the district was striving to improve the education results in order to ensure that Batswana were an educated and informed nation.

He said he was gratified by the excellent partnership that is developing between the community and the school, especially in the area of child care as the country seeks to encourage children to embrace a life that includes the joy of reading. Ends