25 Nov 2019

Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security permanent secretary has commended Orapa Junior Secondary School for a sterling academic performance despite being faced with infrastructural challenges.

Speaking during the official handover ceremony of two classroom blocks at Orapa JSS on November 22, Mr Mmetla Masire applauded the teachers and pupils  who had endured difficulties of learning in the most challenging circumstances yet producing great academic results.

He said education remained one of government’s key areas of strategic priority, noting that government continued to implement some critical reform programmes under the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan aimed at enhancing access and quality education in line with local and global demands.

Mr Masire commended Debswana for aligning its Corporate Social Investment Programme with key pillars of national agenda such as education.

He stated that investing P3.7 million in building two classroom blocks was a good move as they would reduce congestion and improve the quality of learning.

Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines general manager, Mr Bakani Motlhabani said Orapa JSS was worth benchmarking with, given their exceptional academic performance.

He urged the school to celebrate the milestone with the knowledge that despite the challenges experienced in the past, they created an institution of excellence, both in academics and extracurricular activities.

Mr Motlhabani stated that Debswana embraced a culture of high performance in the workplace and were proud to be associated with such an extraordinary performance by Orapa JSS.

He said it was important for schools to form strategic partnerships with corporate and other organisations to enhance performance and increase the competitive edge.

The project consisted of fully furnished two classroom blocks, which Mr Motlhabani encouraged pupils to take advantage of and care for them.

He explained that Debswana would be transitioning to super pits and underground mining, hence would be looking at the pupils to work harder and prepare to be engineers, geologists, metallurgists and other professions that would ensure the transition into the future.

Orapa JSS school head, Ms Kolobetso Seabe said in providing them with classrooms, Debswana had played a major role in meeting the necessities of quality education as contained in Vision 2036.

She said Debswana had made it possible for them to live the vision and ensure that it was realised. ends