12 Feb 2023

Preparations for Matsha Senior Secondary School 40^th anniversary celebrations in Kang are said to be progressing well.

The 40^th anniversary celebrations, spearheaded by Matsha Alumni and other relevant stakeholders are scheduled for March 31.

This was revealed by Dr Lopang Maphale, Matsha Alumni and member of the organising committee on Thursday in Gaborone that the celebration was an endeavour to appreciate and recognise the sacrifices made by the community of Kang and other surrounding village to have exercised patience and upheld the spirit of volunteerism to build the school.

Dr Maphale, a lecturer at the University of Botswana said the occasion was also to appreciate former teachers and the school management for building and shaping some of the former students who today play a significant role in the development of the country.

The school opened its doors to students from Kgalagadi North and other localities 1982. Despite experiencing heart-breaking challenges over the years, Dr Maphale said the school has remained relevant, intact and operational.

Additionally, Dr Maphale said the anniversary celebrations were meant to motivate the current crop of pupils at Matsha, of which the majority were from less developed localities to believe in themselves and focus on their academic journey despite their social background and upbringing.

For his part, the chairperson of the Matsha Alumni 40^th Anniversary, Dr Mosiamisi Mokgolele has noted that a series of fundraising activities were ongoing. Dr Mokgolele said their target was to raise P400 000 to cater for logistics and other necessities.

Dr Mokgolele, a Senior Lecturer at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources said part of the generated funds would be channeled towards developmental projects in the school.

Meanwhile, one of the Matsha Alumni and current MP for Kgalagadi North Ms Talita Monnakgotla has applauded the Matsha Alumni for the spirit of selflessness and the will to remember and give back to an institution that had laid down a foundation for the future.

Ms Monnakgotla said the spirit of love, care, support and volunteerism shown by some former students of Matsha was worth applauding. She said it was important for former students to have pride that they have gone through the doors of Matsha and therefore found it important to raise its name.

Ms Monnakgotla emphasised that some facilities in the school were in dire need of major maintenance, therefore whatever the alumni were intending to do in relation to some developments in the school was a welcome development.

Ms Monnakgotla said one of the projects identified by the alumni was the refurbishment of the students’ assembly point.  She  said the assembly point would be re-designed to have a shade cover to cater for harsh weather conditions.

Other than being used by students for morning prayers and sharing of announcements, Ms Monnakgotla said the assembly point was an important area of the school set up as it also catered for other gatherings such as Parents and Teachers Association meetings and any other mass gatherings. ends