24 Jun 2013

Tutume residents on June 22 celebrated 100 years of existence of Mpani/Magapatona primary school.

Speaking at the occasion, chief executive officer (CEO) of Capital Bank Botswana Mr Sriram Gade said he strongly supports the model of education in Botswana.

He said that knowledge is power as it is one of the pillars of Vision 2016 and millennium development goals (MDGs).

Mr Gade also noted that primary school level was the backbone of the education system and that education teaches students self-control, honesty, discipline and as well as counselling.

He urged teachers to start yoga sessions to teach students on how to concentrate, adding that the spiritual practice also reduces stress.

Mr Gade donated to the school a photocopying machine and P5 000 while Construction & Civils Africa (Pty) Ltd donated 15 computers.

Permanent secretary from the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD), Ms Grace Muzila encouraged the community of Tutume to document the history of the school.

She lamented that education should build a child until they can be able to be a leader and a business person.

Furthermore, Ms Muzila said government is trying hard to support the schools and urged other churches to also contribute to build schools like the London Missionary Society (LMS) did.

She said students should know that the government is expecting much from them, therefore they should be serious with their education, adding that there are some bad things happening in schools such as Satanism, pregnancy, and school drop outs.

Ms Muzila said introduction of scouts and peer educators will assist in character building and appealed to the community to bring disabled children forward so that they can be assisted.

She urged parents to adopt a school either by donations or cleaning the schools, noting that students need to grow in a clean environment.

Mr Itereleng Shubo, a former student said the school, currently known as Magapatona opened its doors to the first pupils around 1910.

The school was founded by the LMS and then relocated with Madandume village to its present site in the early 1920s.

He said in 1930, Mr Matsoma Magaga was a teacher by then, teaching about 200 learners who were doing Sub A to Standard four, adding that Ikalanga and English were used as a medium of instruction.

Mr Shubo added that the school was temporary closed in 1944 due to the ill health of Mr Otukile Mphapho, who took over the office in 1942.

It was then reopened in 1945 with two teachers and in 1948, it was suggested that a permanent structure be built.

He noted that on June 18 in 1950, the structure was completed and the first students started using the building.

Later on the same year, he added, the colonial government restructured the education system and in 1976 the school was taken over by the government with the first Standard 7 pupils having completed in 1975 under the leadership of Mr Meshack Magaga. Mr Shubo said currently the school has enrolment of 413 students. ENDS