23 Oct 2022

The first private school in Selebi Phikwe, Kopano Primary School (KPS), on Saturday celebrated 50^th Anniversary.

Founded in 1972 by BCL mine employees, the school has been championing academic excellence for five decades, and continues providing academic and sports excellence to the community of Selebi Phikwe.

At the time the school was established, there were only two private schools in the country namely John Mackenzie in Francistown and Maruapula in Gaborone.

Speaking during KPS 50^th Anniversary in Selebi Phikwe Saturday, the school head, Ms Levina Granger attributed the school’s excellent academic results to immense support it got from parents, the community and other stakeholders, citing former BCL mine, which offered subsidised tuition fee for its employees’ children.

However, she said closure of BCL mine in 2016 did not only affect the community, but also had devastating effects on schools that benefited from BCL, leading to KPS losing a third of its enrolment.

She said it took several years for the school to bounce back, thanking the community of Selebi Phikwe for their continued support, adding, ‘with the continued support from the community, we have managed to keep this beautiful school floating in the stormy waters’.

Adding to their woes, she said was the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a disruption to education and claimed many lives including one of KPS’ board members, the late John Gaarutwe.

“In time we would like to honour him by naming the hall after him, JVG John Vincent Gaarutwe Memorial Hall in his honour.”

Despite those setbacks, Ms Granger said management of the school ensured that it continued to offer quality education.

KPS’ current enrolment stands at 485 students and also prided itself with qualified local and expatriate teachers.

The school also boasted of a fully-equipped ICT centre with internet connectivity to improve the quality of education and impart students with ICT skills.

Ms Granger also explained that the school also introduced IGCSE, as such, plans to construct a high school were underway.

One of the KPS alumni and also MP for Maun West, Mr Dumelang Saleshando said KPS was strong on discipline and taught pupils the value of being organised. “That is why we can count a number of former Kopano Primary School students who have done so well and are a good resource to this country,” he said.

He urged KPS pupils to work hard and aim higher. “I am pleased that Kopano now has a high school, better late than never,” he said. Mr Saleshando said it was now time to start thinking of possibilities of a tertiary institution focusing on mining.

The KPS alumnus also include Mr Dumi Lopang, one of the country’s leading media entrepreneurs and Ms Matlhogonolo Mponang, who is the Head of human Resources-Midstream at De Beers Group of companies.

For his part, the KPS board of governors chairperson, Mr Montwedi Mphathi said it was time for Selebi Phikwe community to start building a resilient economy that was not reliant on the mine.

Mr Mphathi, who is also the CEO of the Premiere Nickel Resources Botswana (PNRB), tasked with re-developing BCL mine, said a mine was a depleting resource, hence the need to build a resilient economy that would sustain the town post mining. ENDS