23 Nov 2022

Jwaneng’s Kgosi Mpe Junior School is hopeful that the new classroom block financed by Majwe AM570, a charitable cycling organisation,  will turn its academic fortunes around.

“The donation will allow access to quality education, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic which forced us to reduce the number of students per class, resulting in other classes being taught out in the open,” said Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe during the handover ceremony.

He said the two-classroom block would come in handy as research indicated that pupils learnt better when the teacher/pupil ratio was lower.

Minister Letsholathebe said Majwe AM570’s gesture resonated with the ministry’s strategy and Vision 2036 pillar of human and social development.

“I am also informed that the project was completed well on time and within budget by a local constructor, which should be exemplary,” he said.

Dr Letsholathebe also said his ministry was planning to reshape the curriculum. 

The review would include the modalities of delivering it such as embracing technology and promoting vocational education training, he said.

Jwaneng mayor, Ms Olga Ditsie said the Majwe AM570 donation was a living example that government needed to be assisted.

“All should not be left to government. The current education sector is bedeviled by challenges, hence more assistance needed,” she said.

Ms Ditsie said since 2016, the school had been in the top 20 nationally but its performance had been negatively affected by the shifting system and learning in the open.

“We hope the classroom block will help them improve,” she said.

Majwe AM570 board member, Ms Sesolo Robert said the project cost her organisation P750 000 which was part of a 2020 race proceeds.

“We managed to raise about P2.7 million which was distributed to different projects, including procurement of photocopying machines for schools and sanitary pads manufacturer in Maokane,” she said.

Ms Robert said another classroom block was still under construction at Mokhomma Primary School.

A Kgosi Mpe Junior School pupil, Thobo Phagane, expressed  appreciation for  Majwe AM570’s gesture.

“We used to spend a lot of time at home when we were still attending classes in shifts, but after the classroom block was completed, we returned to our normal single shift which is longer and conducive. So we are now hoping for remarkable results,” he said.

He also hailed the organisation for its past assistance to the school which included putting up a structure that had been sub divided into classrooms and  support for the prize giving ceremonies. 

Such support compelled them as learners to study hard, he said.ENDS