07 Sep 2022

Gaborone Secondary School (GSS) top 20 achievers have been urged to set goals that will bring them good results.

Speaking with the top achievers on Tuesday, China’s ambassador to Botswana, Mr Wang Xuefeng said pupils were future pillars of society and the country.

“I dare you to dream big,” said Mr Wang and urged them to take every opportunity to acquire knowledge. He also advised them to be curious and to work hard for the development of Botswana.

He said self-discipline was key and that it enabled one to achieve their dream and  that it would also assist them be outstanding performers.

Mr Wang also informed GSS top achievers that his government attached great importance to education and took education as one of the cooperation priorities with Botswana.

He noted that the Chinese government had built three primary schools over the years in Serowe, Maun and Mmopane, adding that the fourth in Kazungula was still under construction. 

He said their ultimate goal was to make high quality education easily accessible to rural communities living far away from resources.

Mr Wang also noted that he had set up an annual scholarship to award pupils that had achieved top academic performance. He said about 60 pupils and 15 teachers in three schools had already benefitted from the scholarship. He added that the Chinese government had also provided opportunities for training and studying in China as well as people to people exchanges.

Mr Wang commended the Ministry of Education and Skills Development for developing cooperation programmes in education between the two countries, saying it has strengthened China-Botswana relations.

He also praised the GSS 20 top achievers, saying they motivated them to donate teddy bears, a football kit, chopsticks and footballs tothe school.

The acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr Simon Coles also encouraged pupils to “set their feet firmly on the ground.”

He said pupils were the future of the country and that they needed to work hard, not to stop learning and to dream big.

He also thanked the Chinese government for their support. Ends