22 Jun 2021

 Practicing discipline in one’s studies can lead to academic excellence, the Commandant of Paje-based Botswana Defence force (BDF) Military College, Brigadier Benjamin Masunga has said.

Brigadier Masunga said this during the handover of gifts to Patikwane JSS Form 3 learners, who did exceptionally well in their first term examinations, from Specialist Entrant Officer Cadets Class 3 of 2021. 

The gifts, which included blankets, electric irons, electric kettles, school bags, school shoes and toiletry, were given to the best performing pupils in each of the 14 subjects, as a way of motivating them.

He said a good educational background could open great opportunities, adding that the nation needed young innovative minds.

Brigadier Masunga advised the pupils to refrain from alcohol and drug abuse and misuse of social media. 

Giving a motivational speech, one of the Specialist Entrant Officer Cadets Class 3 of 2021, Under Officer Dorcus Kwelagobe encouraged the learners to remain focused on their studies, regardless of the challenges they faced such as lack of resources and the COVID-19 pandemic.

 She said she too grew up in a small village with limited resources, but that did not deter her from achieving her goals. 

She implored them to be ambitious, determined, focused, to set goals for their lives and also seek mentors to guide them to a brighter future.

The Specialist Entrant Officer Cadets comprises of 24 officer cadets recruited from the professional fields of medicine, law, theology, medical engineering and specialised nursing.

On behalf the learners, Karabo Galefetolwe expressed gratitude to the BDF, promising that they would strive for academic excellence and take advantage of the gifts they received.

She said paying attention in class and respecting teachers enabled her to do well in her academics and to be the best in five subjects.

Ms Galefetolwe encouraged other pupils to approach their studies with a positive attitude in order to do well.

Patikwane JSS School Head, Ms Julia Kgomotso said she was impressed by BDF’s efforts towards academic excellence.

She said the school, whose results were not pleasing, had a strong partnership with BDF, as its training camp was based in the area and had made donations to the school before.

Ms Kgomotso lamented the lack of a tower light for the safety of boarding pupils and teachers.

The school head said they were doing their best to improve the school’s academic performance. Ends