21 Jul 2020

Kgosi Boithamako Keipone of Otse in the Central District has decried Sethomo Memorial School’s poor academic performance.

He said this when receiving a donation of 89 school bags from Mahalapye Broadway Motors. 

Kgosi Keipone said he was not pleased with the performance, hence calling for support from stakeholders. 

He said his desire was to witness school’s alumni holding high positions in future. 

Principal community development officer, Ms Wame Papo, said several boarding pupils did not have school bags, hence appeal for a donation of 194 bags,  which Broadway Motors responded to. 

She pleaded with Broadway Motors to adopt their school for further partnership.

Broadway Motors’ human resource manager, Mr Joseph Tamira, said the company gave out bags as per the school management’s request. 

Though the school requested for one 194 bags, the company managed to donate 89.

“The company had been closed during the lockdown period, therefore was unable to make profit and as a result we failed to give the required number of school bags,” he said.

The company started its operations in Mahalapye in 1977, operating under two categories of the Broadway Motor and Shell Ultra City, sparing five per cent of its profit to give back to the community. 

Before schools resumed after lockdown, it donated litter bins to Tewane, Bonwapitse and Tshikinyega primary schools.

“As part of our corporate social responsibility initiative, we donated 100 masks to Mahalapye Secondary  School and Mahalapye Primary school. The following boarding schools also received blankets; Mookane Junior Secondary School, Kudumatse, Dikgatho and Madiba Senoir Secondary School. Mother’s Union, Mahalapye Primary School and Parwe received also received blankets” he added.

Mr Tamira encouraged parents to partner with the school management to improve academic performance.

The school head, Ms Peggy Thebeyadira, said the donation came at the right time, adding that they were encouraged especially when they were expected to exercise social distancing. 

Chief social and community development officer, Mr John Sephobe, stated that pupils from remote areas were likely to have low self-esteem especially when meeting their counterparts from developed villages. 

He said ensuring that pupils from such villages had everything they needed would boost their confidence and also enhance performance at school.

Senior assistant council secretary, Mr Artwell Mlilo, explained that the council alone could not afford to achieve everything.

 He said they had 53 primary schools in Mahalapye Sub-district. 

“There are also orphan and vulnerable children and the needy. All these are the council’s responsibility. Therefore companies like Broadway Motors are playing an important role, by giving back to the community, ensuring that no village is lacking,” Mr Mlilo added.

Another speaker, Mr Joseph Tjienda, encouraged pupils to work hard academically and also take care of their school bags. 

He also urged members of the public to support companies that gave back to the community.

“As members of the public, let us fuel our vehicles at Shell Ultra City Mahalapye, to increase the five per cent that the company is giving to the community,” he said. Ends