20 Jun 2018

Teachers have been urged to accelerate the pace towards a knowledge based economy.

Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Mr Fidelis Molao made the call during the Mmathethe/Molapowabojang cluster awards ceremony recently.

Mr Molao, who is also Member of Parliament for Shashe West, stressed that teachers were critical stakeholders in the nation’s drive towards a knowledge based economy, while learners were building stones for the future.

He said though infrastructure development was also important, human resource development was unparalleled and therefore said investing in learners, especially when they are still young, would turn them into ‘diamonds’ that would shine without end, even beyond the borders of the nation rather than depending on depletable natural resources, which he described as dicey.

The Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan, Mr Molao said would bring about outcome-based curriculum and multiple pathways, which would make Batswana globally competitive.

He explained that the initiative would propel the academically gifted young Batswana down that path, while enabling those with less academic endowments also pursue their talents.

To this end, he applauded area MP, Dr Alfred Madigele for coming up with the initiative to reinforce and reward good performance.

Mr Molao challenged the award winners and those who did not do that well to work even harder and soar to the sky like eagles.

He informed the learners that government would sponsor them to do any course of their choice anywhere in the world if they passed Form 5 with six A*.

He said government appreciated the contribution and sacrifices some teachers made in their call of duty.

The assistant minister challenged teachers to comport themselves in a worthy manner before the learners, warning that any behaviour they modelled could rub off on the latter.
Mr Molao also applauded the non-teaching staff for creating a conducive teaching and learning environment in schools, adding that government was aware of the support that teachers and learners of the 21st Century needed.

He has meanwhile, decried that schools were faced with drug and alcohol abuse and urged stakeholders, especially teachers and parents to join the fight.

He said some drugs were being peddled in schools by some parents and advised the perpetrators to refrain from the habit.

Dr Madigele, for his part, commended Parent Teacher Associations for playing a pivotal role in the education sector.

He thanked, among others, Botswana Innovation Hub, Human Resource Development Council, Sefalana Group, Golden Silence and Botswana Open University for sponsoring the event.

Meanwhile, Koketso Oratile from Gathwane Primary School emerged the best overall learner out of 23 schools in the cluster, while Tshenolo Japie from Chichi Hill School also received the best student award for Junior Schools.

Ms Dithapelo Ralotsia snatched the best teacher award, Ms Agnes Mathota, most improved teacher, while Ms Olivia Bogacu won the award for the best in primary schools and Mr Gaonyadiwe Nyere got the prize for junior schools respectively.

Motsentshe and Chichi scooped best primary and junior school prizes respectively.

A Form Two student from Chichi, Lawrence Itseng donated a handmade portrait of Dr Madigele to him and the MP gave him P100 in return. Ends