22 Aug 2013

Camp Primary School’s proximity to Thapong Visual Arts Centre has come as a blessing.

When the centre hosts events, especially exhibition sessions, it always recognises the community around it. It was through this that the management of Thapong invited Camp's school head to one of its exhibitions and they talked of working together towards the improvement of art in the school.

Thinking of the Adopt a School programme that was initiated by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Thapong took advantage of the initiative and adopted Camp Primary school.

Ontibile Jack, the senior teacher for practical subjects, said in an interview that ever since their partnership with Thapong, student’s art work had improved.

Jack said students had since developed interest in art, let alone shown improvement in their art skills, with more concentration on drawing.

She said they normally have resident Thapong members coming to the school to impart skills to the students to an extent that the school improved its art performance in the Gaborone South regional subject fair and had been awarded 11 certificates. The art works had been presented for judging and were waiting to go for zonal competitions.

She highlighted that student’s skills, especially in drawing and tie and dye, had been so much enhanced. Ms Jack said Thapong members who deal with Marimba have started a Marimba band at Camp Primary School.

An official of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Reginald Bakwena, said the centre’s connection with Camp Primary School was a way of expanding its horizon in giving back to the community.

Bakwena said, only starting with Camp Primary School as the first beneficiaries, the center has intention to give back to the community even in other areas.

“We found it fit to assist students grasp art skills and also found the need to develop talent, especially from grass roots level, and thus the reason for working with the primary school,” he said.

Bakwena said this would go a long way in ensuring that students discover their talent in art and even know that they could make a living and develop a career out of art. ENDS