09 Sep 2018

Early childhood education or reception classes continue to spread with government schools in a bid to better the quality of education in the country.

On September 7, a pre-school block was officially handed over to Tlhale Primary School in Gumare by the Embassy of Japan in Botswana.

The project was constructed through the Japanese government’s grant scheme called the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, upon request from the Okavango Sub-district Council.

The P825 666 facility comprises two classrooms, administrative office, store room, shower, sick bay and toilets.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Thato Kwerepe commended the Japanese government for the continued cordial bilateral relationship and assistance between the two countries.

He said construction of a pre-school in Tlhale Primary School by the Japanese government was a gift and implored that it be taken proper care of.

Mr Kwerepe also encouraged parents to work together with teachers to ensure that children got the education they deserved, adding that it was the parents’ responsibility to ensure that their children go to school.

Meanwhile, the Ambassador of Japan, Mr Kozo Takeda said in 2016 upon request from the Okavango Sub-district Council, the Japanese government decided to sign the grant contract for the project.

He noted that the project was the 47th amongst the 53 projects that the embassy had assisted under the grant scheme in Botswana since 1997.

Ambassador Takeda also emphasised the importance of early childhood education, noting that it would make an impact on national development in the long term.

Mr Takeda said the programme focused on the development of skills, knowledge, attitude and practices that would enable pupils to be ready for primary education.

“We recognise there are 68 public schools in North West District and 24 schools do not have pre-school class. I am pleased to note that this pre-school project in Gumare follows our recent pre-school projects in areas such as Ghanzi, Southern, Chobe and Kgalagadi districts,” he said.

For his part, Okavango Sub-district senior assistant council secretary, Mr Masaoko Katorah said the request for a grant from Japan came about after the sub-district had realised the challenge of declining academic performance at basic primary school level as compared to other regions which had access to pre-school education.

Mr Katorah said the sub-district had a quest for establishment of such facilities to enhance early childhood development both intellectually and physically in preparation for primary school.

Mr Katorah said the request was approved by the Japanese Embassy and a memorandum of agreement was signed in 2016 while the project commenced in 2017 and completed in 2018. Ends