23 Oct 2017

Japan Ambassador to Botswana, Mr Masahiro Onishi has officially handed over a pre-school to West Hanahai constructed through the Japanese government’s grant scheme known as the Grant Assistance for Grass-roots Human Security Projects.

Speaking at the event on Thursday, Mr Onishi said Japan signed a grant contract of US$43 510 with Ghanzi District Council for the construction of the West Hanahai pre-school in Ghanzi District. He said the importance of early childhood education could not be overemphasised since it did not only enable smooth transition to primary school, but also contributed to the development of children’s brighter character.

Mr Onishi said the handing over of the project would assist the Ministry of Basic Education in implementing early childhood education which it started in 2013, and that it had resulted in the establishment of 382 public pre-schools with the ministry planning to establish 89 more.

He said West Hanahai being 50 kilometres from Ghanzi and having a population of 782 experienced low level of education compared to urban schools, and that one of the reasons was the lack of a reception classroom block.

Mr Onishi noted that West Hanahai introduced early childhood education in 2016 with 23 pupils using a surplus classroom too small to accommodate them.

He said he was pleased to see them utilising the new reception block to improve the quality of education and learning environment.

West Hanahai project, he said, followed the recent Japanese government pre-school projects in remote areas such as villages in the North West, Chobe and Southern district. He said early childhood education brought daily interactions among children and teachers from a young age while still receptive and flexible, and also widened children’s world and developed their communication ability and adaptability thus resulting in better academic results.

Mr Onishi urged stakeholders to join hands for the maximum benefit of the project to be gained.

Ghanzi District Council chairperson, Mr Galetlhaole Sixpence said they were thankful for the project since an investment in education was an investment in the future.

Mr Sixpence said the facility was a welcome development built to the required standards and specifications for pre-schools. Ends