16 Jan 2019

Teaching children about the importance of saving and monetary education can mould them to be money wise when they grow up.

Speaking at Shadishadi Primary School toiletry donation, vice chairperson of Motswedi Savings and Credit Co-operative Society, Ms Marea Kazondunge said when their organisation visited eSwatini last year, they found that primary school children formed active co-operative societies in their schools, which helped them learn about saving money.

She said they would like to share the idea around schools in Botswana.

She said they donated toiletries worth P25 000 to Shadishadi pupils through their community social responsibility programme, whose aim was to ensure that children in remote areas went to school without worrying about their hygiene.

Ms Kazondunge said they also wanted to see the girl child competing academically with the boy child without challenges of missing school because they did not have sanitary towels.

She further said they understood challenges that parents were facing as some were less privileged and could not afford their children.

She expressed hope that the donation would motivate the pupils to work hard in their studies.

Motswedi Saccos is a co-operative that was started by public servants from the then ministries of Agriculture as well as Trade and Industry and has over 3 000 members.

Shadishadi primary school has 506 pupils 263 of whom are boarders.

When appreciating the donation, Shadishadi school head, Ms Cecilia Mogotlhwane  decried the poor performance of the school, saying in 2017, they managed to score 25.8 per cent in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), while in 2018 they scored 43.7 per cent.

Ms Mogotlhwane revealed that children in Shadishadi and surrounding areas were more interested in sporting activities than academics.

She said there was lack of parental support in children’s education, saying most children came from settlements and it was difficult for their parents or guardians to actively participate in school activities such as parents’ teacher association meetings.

Ms Mogotlhwane commended Motswedi Saccos for their gesture, saying it would help motivate pupils to attend classes with a smile.

She said children needed role models from their villages so that they could excel in their studies.

Earlier on in his welcome remarks, Kgosi Keotshepile Gabanakgosi of Shadishadi thanked Motswedi Saccos for choosing to donate toiletries to pupils in his village, saying their wish was to see the society continuing to extend a helping hand. ENDS