17 Oct 2013

Diamond Educational Publishers, a private company, is an epitome of public private partnership, the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri, said recently

Speaking during the company’s P545 000 worth of donation to Lekgolobotlo Primary School in the Southern District, Mr Matlhabaphiri commended Diamond Educational Publishers for its commitment to nation building through education.

Mr Matlhabaphiri said the donation, which included disability friendly water borne toilets for both boys and girls, work stations for teachers, sports kit and garden tools, would not only give the school a facelift but would make it more conducive for teaching and learning. He urged other companies to follow the example of Diamond Educational Publishers.

He commended the Diamond Educational Publishers and its managing director, Mr Johnson Chengeta, for the donations made to many other schools. He described Mr Chengeta as a visionary leader. “I am happy that your milk of human kindness is directed to all Batswana rather than your home village only,” he said.

Mr Matlhabaphiri challenged teachers to derive the necessary motivation from the spirit of the donation and other acts of goodwill to improve the performance of students. He urged the management of the school to complement the gesture of Diamond Educational Publishers by taking care of the furniture.

For his part, Mr Chengeta said Diamond Educational Publishers would like to be remembered as a small company with a big heart, as opposed to big money. Mr Chengeta said the donation was intended to create a conducive environment for both learning and teaching, adding that research had shown that children were motivated to do their best under a conducive learning environment.

He added that Diamond Educational Publishers would give the school a further P20 000 for minor maintenance work. Mr Motsamai Phuthego, the regional director in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, said the donation was a giant step towards the realisation of the Adopt a School initiative.

He said as an educator, Mr Chengeta knew what was to be achieved with the donation. He said he hoped that performance would improve because each teacher had a work station.

Kgosi Aupa Mokabedi of Lekgolobotlo said it was unfortunate that parents would not be able appreciate the gesture. The MP for Kanye North, Mr Kentse Rammidi, urged government to turn the citizen economic empowerment initiative into a law that provides incentives for donor-companies.

He commended the Ministry of Education and Skills Development for having come up with the Adopt a School initiative, which he described as a step in the right direction. Ends