14 Oct 2013

Quality education embraces learners who are healthy, safe as well as ready to learn and supported by their families and the community, Majwe Mining Joint Venture project director, Mr Ian McRae has said.

Officiating at the 21st anniversary celebration and prize giving ceremony of Lotlamoreng I Junior School in Good Hope, McRae said a child friendly school should therefore be rights based, inclusive and effective with children, healthy and protective.

He noted that it should also involve not only children, but their families and the community at large, adding that at Majwe mining, they advocated for academic excellency delivered in a friendly environment.

Mr McRae urged the school management to continue to strive towards achieving a child friendly environment, noting that teachers as the ultimate facilitators of learning, were crucial drivers in child friendly schools and should not be left behind.

“It is thus also important that we always seek to enhance teacher capacity, morale, commitment, status, and above all teachers’ recognition of children’s rights”, he said.

Furthermore, Mr  McRae appealed to parents and the community at large to support the government in giving quality education, noting that it was wise and appropriate in so many ways for them to show a keen interest in the education of their children.

He said often parents left their children to live by themselves and thus exposing them to various risks that can interfere with their education.
As a community, he said, they must also have a support structure that ensures that orphaned and vulnerable children have access to quality education too.

Turning to students Mr. McRae said as partners in education, they must also contribute to make their learning environment child friendly and that they should strive to keep the school clean, healthy and welcoming, free from alcohol as well as the use of dangerous instruments such as knives.

“You should also avoid getting involved in relationships that may also distract you from achieving your goals”, he said. Mr McRae told the school management that Majwe mining together with their sub-contractors, Danoher Contracting have agreed to contribute to the school through the expansion of the staff room facilities.

He noted that the facilities will be expanded at an estimated value of P500 000. In her remarks, the school head, Mrs Baratang Bokete indicated that the school opened its doors for the first group of students in 1992 and therefore, this year marks 21 years of existence.

She said since 2010, the school has attained top position amongst the seven junior schools in the sub region. Though in terms of  performance is not the best, she said it is however encouraging as they continue to strive for better performances.

However, the school head said the community and parent involvement continues to be another impediment in achieving their dream. “We still have a significant number of parents who, once they bring their children here for Form I, they never come for PTA meetings and open days at this school.  This is one area we need to improve on as parents’ involvement in children’s education is critical,” she said.

The theme for the event was “Attaining Academic Excellence in a child Friendly Environment”. Ends