19 May 2019

There is need of stakeholder participation in education in order for government to adequately and consistently provide required facilities and equipment in schools, says Vice President Mr Slumber Tsogwane.

Mr Tsogwane said this during an eight-kilometre sponsored walk organised by Mmadikola Primary School in Mmadikola on May 17.

He said government recognised and advocated for the notion of active stakeholder participation for the benefit of the learners through improved academic results.

The aim of the walk was to raise funds towards building a school hall and also embraced wellness in an effort to scale down the spread of non-communicable diseases.

Mr Tsogwane appreciated the public’s cooperation and commended school management for their hard work and commitment in delivering a successful event. He therefore urged other schools to emulate Mmadikola.

For his part, Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines senior process engineer Mr Otlaadisa Selei said that Debswana believed that partnering with stakeholders provided communities with an opportunity to learn and appreciate what the company stood for.

He said enhancement of school facilities was a strategic focus area in the Debswana corporate social responsibility policy and deliberate efforts to improve relations, noting that partnerships with schools in their zone had been forged.

Mr Selei said that their employees also volunteered through different initiatives that contributed to improved performance.

Mmadikola Primary School, he said, had worked closely with Orapa Plant No. 2 peer educators.

Public Private Partnerships, he said, had reduced the burden on government and promoted responsibility and the spirit of unity.

The days’ theme, which was Walking Together for the Development of Future Leaders, he said, was a true testimony of how everyone responded to the call to transform communities.

He stated that when the public stood together, they model the right behaviour for future generations, who would learn that shared responsibility, support and promotion of values as well as norms led to development of a well-rounded responsible citizen.

The school head, Ms Ruth Leakwa stated that the objective of the day was to raise funds towards building a P1-million school hall, which would be used for meetings, school activities, reception class activities and indoor games.

Ms Leakwa said the school needed classrooms, a library and a computer room.

Mr Tsogwane donated P10 000 while Letshego donated P5 000, Lucara Botswana P10 000, Ke Tseo Investment P5 000, Hardworkers P3 000, Dikgosi P3000 and the community members contributed a sum of P1 460 and 40 bags of cement through councillor Elijah Motsamai.

Debswana designed the plan for the school hall, which is composed of two bathrooms and two change rooms. ENDS