04 Apr 2022

Debswana has taken a stand to embrace education in its programmes to ensure that teachers build a progressive nation.

Debswana’s Orapa Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines general manager, Mr Mogakolodi Maoketsa said this during a visit to Orapa Junior Secondary School where donated P30 000 to the school for producing good results.

Mr Maoketsa, who described teachers as nation builders, said the school’s sterling performance placed them as role models in the region and in Botswana.

He cautioned teachers against down-playing their role as people building the future.

Teachers, he said, needed to understand their role, indicating that if education was the future then the educator was the builder of the future.

“I see you as nation builders, if we so desire to have a nation that is progressive, forward looking and independent, we will have to support you,” he said.

Intrinsic motivation was key, he said noting that Orapa JSS teachers were motivated from within and therefore Debswana should sustain that.

He said Debswana was very grateful for the school’s sterling performance, saying they were role models in the region and in Botswana.

For her part, the Orapa JSS school head Ms Kolobetso Seabe stated that the school had scooped position one in the Junior Examination School leaving results with a  76.82 per cent pass rate, which she attributed that to the team’s exceptional dedication.

Ms Seabe indicated that they had the commitment to excel.

In addition their pupils’ active use of the library, she said, had immensely contributed to the school’s outstanding performance. “Our learners have this active zeal to use the library,” she said.

She stated that they had set themselves stretching targets but realistic school targets, adding that the school has a very strong Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and other stakeholders such as Orapa and Letlhakane Mines which had given them unwavering support.

Orapa JSS, she said began as a 15-stream school and grew to an 18-stream school until it became a 24-stream school.

Ms Seabe noted that the school growth brought its own challenges such as need for more classes, office space and laboratories, but due to financial strains they had to do with the little they had.

The workforce also had to increase and that brought a  staffing schallenge, “but we are a force to reckon with as we battled it out to rise above waters,” she said.

She stated that they had enrichment and remediation programmes by specialists from Debswana.

Ms Seabe noted that Orapa JSS was not double shifting because classes were sponsored by Debswana.

Councillor for Orapa, Mr Balopi Chilume commended the teachers, noting that they produced exceptional results under very difficult conditions.

He implored Debswana to assist the school with accommodation. ENDS