23 Sep 2018

Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Thato Kwerepe, has applauded stakeholders for assisting Ngami Junior Secondary School  with donations.  

Mr Kwerepe, who officiated at the Sehithwa-based school’s 30 year anniversary on September 21 , said partnerships in education  helped government achieve desired results.

He commended teachers for soldiering on, despite challenges such as lack of accommodation, shortage of books and poor teaching areas. 

He also urged parents to be on board and participate in their children’s education

Kwerepe said government was addressing some challenges faced by the  education system through reforms, citing the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETTSP) model, which he said called for multiple pathways.

The  ETSSP,  he said, recognised the importance of elementary education for the country to have quality education adding that about 55 schools in the Ngamiland had pre-schools.

Mr Kwerepe said the ETTSP would also allow upper classes to specialise according to their talents and observed that  students had  different talents. 

For her part, the school head,  Ms Onalethata Lekelandi, said the school was a catchment area for villages: Komana and Semboyo/Makakung in 1988.

Ms Lekelandi said the then Sehithwa community played a major role by housing students from the neighbouring villages since there was no boarding facilities in the school.

She said the school grew to become a 12 stream over the years, as a result the student population increased to 784 thus  exceeding less than 500 to be accommodated by a 12 stream.

Ms Lekelandi said Ngami JSS was blessed to have reached 30 years but was hopeful for maintenance of school facilities or expansion to accommodate all.

As part of the celebrations, the school appreciated the role of stakeholders who supported them. 

Ms Lekelelandi said the school had experienced slight improvement in the academic results in the past four years which she attributed to partnership.

The Sefalana Maun branch which was the main sponsor donated Information Communication and Technology (ICT) equipment including computers and laptops amounting to P30 000.

For his part, Sefalana Maun branch manager, Mr Mothusi Charles, said the ICT equipment were was to assist students in advancing computer skills which was key in the world today.

Ngami JSS alumnus Dr Molatedi Lesiamang who schooled at Ngami between 2002 and 2005 encouraged the students that the only tool to succeed in academics was through dedication and hard.

Dr Lesiamang also said respect to leadership which entails teachers in a school setup would open gates for them.

He stated that he managed to scoop eight A* at senior school and later received a valedictorian award at University of Botswana as the overall best student when he graduated, where he is currently employed.

The Ngami JSS deputy school head, Ms Zaheja Ndjarakana-Komoki observed that Ngami’s  performance had been unsatisfactory in the past four years but hoped to improve them, with 15.6 per cent in 2014, 20.9 per cent in 2015, 17.6 in 2016 and 22 per cent in 2017. ENDS