01 Oct 2019

The First Lady, Ms Neo Masisi, has encouraged Mmathethe Primary School teachers to inspire pupils to have faith.

Speaking at the school’s prize giving ceremony recently, Ms Masisi said a confident and inspired pupil had ambition to aim above mediocrity.

She said pupils from a lowly background usually doubted themselves and felt inadequate, therefore it was critical for teachers to instill confidence and demonstrate that such pupils could also start from nothing and work their way to a good life through education.

She encouraged pupils  to learn from other residents like Dr Kingsley Siele, a veterinary surgeon, who grew up in the same village but never allowed himself to get sidetracked from his ambition by circumstances at the time. She argued that if they worked hard in their studies, they would become anything they ever wished to be, adding that ‘today a reader, tomorrow a leader’.

She also argued that, regardless of position in life, God had placed a special gift of talent in each person, which she stressed if identified and nurtured, could propel anyone to become the best version of themselves.

She urged them to draw inspiration from the fact that teaching and learning environment was more conducive than it ever was in Dr Siele’s time.

However, Ms Masisi explained that talent should not only be limited to academics thus commending the school for rewarding pupils who had excelled both in core curricular and extra-curricular activities.

She said time had come for children, especially those who were less endowed in academics, to be allowed to explore their talents in order to earn a living. 

She shared that government had channelled a budget towards the education sector with a view to transform the nation from resource to a knowledge-based economy. Ms Masisi said rewarding pupils who did well could cultivate good performance culture around the school.

Meanwhile, Ms Masisi challenged the school to track class results every term and post averages, but without pupils’ names, saying “this would help them identify challenges and direct support where it is needed”. 

Furthermore, she urged parents to develop interest in the education of their children whether or not they knew how to read or write. She said a parent’s touch could spur a child to strive for excellence. Acting school head, Ms Lesego Kwele, said the school’s performance had dropped from 75 per cent in 2016 to 55 last year. 

She, however, commended government for providing children with breakfast, saying the initiative had come in handy, especially for those who stayed far from school. Dr Siele, on one hand, also encouraged pupils to work hard, adding he was a living testimony that they could also have the world at their feet someday. Dr Siele, however challenged pupils to have discipline if they wished to prosper. He also encouraged teachers to build learners’ self-confidence for them to be assertive.

Good Hope Sub-district Council chairperson, Ms Gladys Molefhe, applauded the school for organising the event, despite dropping grades, arguing that motivation derived from the event, could turn things around for the better. ends