14 Sep 2020

The Okavango Community Trust (OCT) has established a study centre at Beetsha in the Okavango Panhandle, to bring services closer to the people.

The centre is to benefit learners who have not performed well in their Junior Certificate (JC) and Botswana General Certificate in Secondary Education (BGCSE) examinations.

The trust chairperson, Mr Molatlhegi Moyei told BOPA that most of the children from the panhandle traveled long distance to access services at Botswana Open University (BOU) study group in Tsau, more than 200km away.

He stated that the trust signed a memorandum of agreement with BOU in Maun last month to facilitate tutorials.

The agreement is such that because the trust prefers double lessons, the university will pay teachers for one lesson and another will be paid for by the trust. BOU campus in Maun presents a unique opportunity for the communities of Maun and the entire Ngamiland District for a diverse remit of programmes and courses through the open and distance learning methodologies.

The university offers open schooling programme comprising of JC and BGCSE and tertiary level programmes while Beetsha study centre focuses on JC and BGCSE programmes.

The trust has reportedly furnished the centre with the necessary resources such as furniture, computers, printers, photocopying machines among others and has started operations.

Mr Moyei said the trust had also provided COVID-19 complince necessities such as hand washing stations, thermometers and registration forms.

He expressed a concern about poor performance at schools in their jurisdiction and hoped the centre would promote effective learning and teaching and also motivate parents to take interest in their children’s education.

“I hope pupils will be motivated to earn higher grades, improve behaviour and aim higher, when their parents are actively engaged in supporting their success at school,” he stated.

Another planned development, he said, was to connect internet to enhance learning, teaching as well as expand research.

Mr Moyei highlighted that the trust adopted Ngambao Junior Secondary School in Seronga and assisted the school with P5 000 every year to meet their needs.

The trust donates an annual P2 500 towards prize giving activities for all the primary schools in the five villages affiliated to the trust being; Beetsha, Seronga, Gunutsoga, Eretsha and Gudigwa. ENDS