20 Sep 2018

Former student at Mookami Junior Secondary School and business manager with Air Botswana, Mr Boikanyo Ntwaagae has encouraged teachers and learners to work hard and take the school a notch up.

Speaking at the school’s 30th anniversary and prize giving ceremony recently, Mr Ntwaagae advised teachers and learners to take advantage of the Connecting Classrooms initiative, to share knowledge and experiences with counterparts across the world through the Internet which he was optimistic, would meaningfully change the school for the best.

He revealed that through the exchange programme, some teachers at the school also visited the United Kingdom and Tanzania sponsored by the Kent College, where they gained invaluable classroom and cultural experience, which he challenged them to apply in the classroom situation.

Mr Ntwaagae, who was a student between 1990 and 1991, further shared that the school also had a rewarding exchange with visitors from Kent College.

He said the exchange programme had connected the school to the outside world.

As the school celebrated 30 years, he said it was crucial for teachers to draw lessons from the past as they stepped into the future.

Meanwhile, he remembered the late Batho Madigele for the drawing he left in front of the staff room, which he described as an inspiration for many.

It was also revealed that the late Madigele’s friend Tumisang Ramarea, who is based in the US, has formed an organisation called Batho Madigele Foundation with a view to propel students to take their studies seriously.

The late Madigele was among the school’s top achievers.

The Foundation awarded comforters, files and mathematical instrument sets to all rounded learners.

Mr Ntwaagae awarded prizes to learners who achieved 80 per cent and above in each subject and encouraged them to draw inspiration from the gesture.

He appreciated that the school, which somewhat took a back seat over the years with regards to academics and sport, has made tremendous strides recently.

Even without proper playing field, he said, the school had done well in sport, which he said gave learners career path ways to choose from.

A Form Three student, Bonno Seofeleng scooped seven prizes, which entailed certificates for all the subjects and a voucher worth P1 750.

One Semumu became the best overall student among Form Ones and walked away with a certificate and a P700 voucher, while Larona Makgobi beat all Form Two pupils to win P1 200  and a certificate.

Former student and class of 1998 chairperson, Mr Othusitse Moilwa donated 304 packets of sanitary pads and 85 school socks to boys.

Mr Ntwaagae advised students who got prizes to keep working hard, adding that the sky was the limit.

“I believe this will be a motivation to you, it is never too late to improve,” he said to those students who did not receive prizes.

The school head, Mr Kgotlayame Mosesane, advised students to draw inspiration from stakeholder support and work had.

He said their target was to beat the 40.6 per cent they got last year in the final examinations. ENDS