13 Aug 2018

Four brilliant students from two junior secondary schools in Kanye North have each been given a heifer by area MP, Mr Patrick Ralotsia.

 Mr Ralotsia made the donation during a ceremony to award the 2017 top achievers who were doing junior certificate at Tlhomo Junior Secondary School and Boiteko Junior Secondary School in Kanye and Ranaka respectively on August 9.

Mr Ralotsia, who is also Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Security, said the gesture was an incentive to inspire them towards academic excellence.   

“I also want you to venture into farming as per the rich Setswana culture,” he said, promising that the best student among them for the 2018 academic year would be awarded another heifer.

The four recipients were Florah Gaongalelwe, Florence Gaongalelwe, Gokagiso Ntsimanyana and Matla Thebeetsile.

He also called on other students to make hay while the sun shined and give up wayward behaviour that could ruin their future. 

The Kanye North MP promised students from his constituency a heifer each if they passed with flying colours. 

He said the objective was to encourage other capable students to study.

“Your destiny is in your hands. Nobody can live your life. As parents and teachers we can only provide you with guidance,” said Mr Ralotsia.

He said he was worried by a group of students who did not attend classes and had resorted to drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

Mr Ralotsia, who is also a former teacher, criticised some parents, saying they were irresponsible and sold drugs to students and in the process destroying their future.

He said with the ever increasing interventions by both the government and community members, the sky was the limit for students’ who had ambitions.

He also urged parents to take part in their children’s education in order to improve school results which were declining. He advised them to have a keen interest in their children’s academic performance. 

Mr Ralotsia also appealed to parents, teachers and students to work together for better academic results.  

One of the top achievers, Florah, thanked the MP and government for supporting academic excellence. She urged those who would be writing their junior certificate examinations this year to work hard. ENDS