05 Apr 2017

Assistant Minister of Presidential Affairs, Governance and Public Administration Mr Thato Kwerepe has applauded Japanese government for their contribution to the development of Botswana.

Assistant Minister Kwerepe said this yesterday on Tuesday at the handing over ceremony in Sekhutlane of a pre-primary school block at Sekhutlane primary school .

Mr Kwerepe noted that the project is a reflection of Japanese government’s global commitment to upholding the concept of human security in the fields of education, health and skills training as well as social welfare support. Minister Kwerepe indicated that education and skills development is key to individual and collective empowerment.

The inception of reception classes in the education system to promote early childhood care and development came after the Revised National Policy on Education of April 1994. Mr Kwerepe noted that the policy identified challenges of early childhood education; which he said advocated for the inception of reception classes in the education system to promote early childhood care and development.

Minister said pre-primary education was mainly provided by private individuals and organizations through day care programme.

Mr Kwerepe said therefore that bringing early childhood learning to less privileged settlements such as Sekhutlane is an important milestone in the long term efforts by government. When handing over the project, Japanese ambassador to Botswana Mr Masashiro

Onishi emphasised that early childhood learning helps children to build a foundation for primary education as well as allowing them to develop their social skills through interaction with classmates.

Mr Masashiro indicated that his government’s contribution to early childhood education in Botswana is an effort to improve their quality of education and their learning environment especially in remote areas.

He indicated that remote areas face challenges such as rough gravel roads, frequent drought and insufficient education environment due to their geographical locations; thus result in low results in primary school leaving examinations.

He said early childhood enables children to smoothly transit to primary school and also contribute tremendously to their development of bright character. He noted that childrens’ readiness towards school life should be significantly improved through provision of early childhood education.

The project consists of one block of two classrooms, an office, storeroom, sickbay and ablutions; and the entire project was constructed at a cost of P750 000. ENDS