08 Dec 2019

The Minister of Basic Education Mr Fidelis Molao has described Machana Primary School near Jwaneng as a model of success for his ministry.

Mr Molao said recently during a visit to the largely tented school which was put together in 2016 with virtually no budget from the ministry.

The minister explained that the school was a demonstration of government’s commitment to educating all Batswana regardless of location.

Mr Molao said no child should be left behind when they reached school going age. He said their vision was to expand the school which runs up to standard four, step-by-step in future until it became fully-fledged.

However, he said government’s commitment to providing education and other services to Batswana was usually undermined by challenges such as mushrooming settlements.

This, he said created high numbers of children walking long distances to school across the country. Mr Molao, however said priority for his ministry was addressing the problem.

Mr Molao also Member of Parliament for Shashe West further applauded the school staff for their concerted efforts to provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning in an area devoid of basic amenities like electricity.

He said the sacrifice they made was being noticed and appreciated.

 He further extended gratitude to Machana residents for treating the school teachers as part of them.

He encouraged stakeholders to continue working together, share credit for a job well-done and the blame when things were not as rosy.

Regional director-South Mr Acronews Maseko for his part said the school was the brainchild of President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi when  he was area MP in 2017.

He said Dr Masisi was moved by a high number of school age children who were out of school because parents had no means to have them stay 21km away for schooling in Sese.

He said they put the school together through contributions from residents, Southern District Council, government departments and the private sector, Dr Masisi donated two donkey carts with canopy to transport children to school and back while his wife Ms Neo Masisi adopted the school as patron.

In view of the current dry spell, the director shared that they took the initiative to feed the donkeys that provided draught power.

Mr Maseko was however pleased that children who had dropped out of school in Pitseng and Sese had since enrolled in Machana.

School head Ms Mary Mbikiwa for her part said they were a small team driven by a burning desire to serve the nation.

“We are jacks of all trades and usually work odd hours to meet the demands of the service,” she said.

Meanwhile area councillor Banewang Marumoatsile appreciated that walking long distances to school children had become a thing of the past.

The minister’s visit was intended to touch base with staff to appreciate their day to day challenges. ENDS