07 Jun 2020

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has appealed to teachers to stay focused in driving an innovative society and a knowledge based economy.

Touring Nanogang Junior Secondary School and Camp Primary School in Gaborone on Friday, President Dr Masisi said the local and world economies were in demand of innovation and therefore teachers must continue inspiring students to come up with innovative ideas.

Dr Masisi urged teachers that as they celebrated Teacher’s Day they must not shy away from resetting their teaching methods and continue enriching their knowledge by engaging in further and continuous learning. 

“Never stop learning, continue with your studies, if you are hampered by financial constraints, do it online,” said Dr Masisi.

He said at present, the country’s economy and that of the world as a whole was affected by the COVID –19 pandemic and therefore the situation called for sectors such as education to respond positively in order for the economy to resuscitate.

“As teachers you are the first line of response when we are faced with such pandemics,” said President Dr Masisi. 

Dr Masisi said their response to compliance with regulations laid down to combat the corona virus was spot on and therefore, they should continue empowering the learners to take it to another level by coming up with creative ideas that would sustain the nation beyond COVID -19 pandemic.

 He said the businesses and the nation as a whole must learn from the challenge that were brought about by the COVID–19 pandemic.

“We have to respond at our level best, because we can. We cannot fold our hands when faced with such a challenge. We must confront it and we cannot stop living. 

Do not abandon life but rather pursue it even in the faced with a pandemic,” said President Masisi.

Dr Masisi said despite the challenges as a result of  the COVID–19 pandemic, Botswana would move forward and ultimately succeed. 

Therefore Dr Masisi appealed to the media to also play their role in the nation’s success. 

“Journalists, help us as we migrate in our journey,” said Dr Masisi.

While communicating through various platforms, Dr Masisi has advised the media fraternity to tread carefully bearing in mind that the young learners were traumatised by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

He said what was consumed by the community from various media platforms must provide some form of counselling to school going children. 

“As front liners, provide our young generation with counselling service. What you portray has massive impact on young minds. 

As human beings, our children are scared of what they are going through, but while in fear, they must be guided accordingly in order to soldier on,” said President Masisi.

Moreover, Dr Masisi said the media must assist the country to succeed and ultimately be proud to live in a successful country. 

“Help me in selling the future of this nation to the entire world,” he said. 

As a way of dealing with congestion and practicing social distancing at schools, Dr Masisi indicated schools that were in short of classrooms would be provided with port cabins. 

“Even when you go to war, you at times encounter some stumbling blocks,” he said.

Meanwhile, Basic Education Minister, Mr Fidelis Molao, has applauded teachers across the country for their commitment to ensuring that despite the challenging environment limited resources, schools were re-opened as per the plan. 

“I would like to commend teachers for improvising and doing all they can with the little at their disposal,” said Mr Molao. 

Taking into consideration that more time was lost as a result of the pandemic, Mr Molao said a decision was taken for completing students to go back to students first even though the necessary works to ensure compliance were still ongoing.

Mr Molao added that teachers came with innovative ideas to ensure that the school environment was compliant with COVID–19 precautionary measures. 

He said in most of the schools maintenance works were at an advanced stage. 

“We are not going to end here, we shall continue improving the situation at schools more so that in a week’s  time  all the students will be back at schools. 

All in all, I am happy with what has been and what is being done,” said Mr Molao. Ends