07 May 2023

Private sector participation in education can help in providing quality learning as well as curriculum design that will sustain education recipients in the midst of global competition.

Letlhakeng chief education officer, Mr Gagoope Andreck said this at the hand over ceremony of books donated by Botswana Book Project for Letlhakeng region schools in Serinane recently

“We appreciate the noble gesture as government alone cannot achieve this,” said Mr Andreck.

He said government’s commitment to providing excellent learning was reflected by strategies that advocated inclusive learning driven by pastoral care system and provision of appropriate infrastructure.

“If you put effort it does not matter where you are, as change is inevitable,” he said.

Consequently, he urged all stakeholders to support and cooperate in assisting learners where possible to ease the burden on teachers.

Mr Andreck said he was certain that his region was heading in the right direction as they had stood together in grooming the nation’s future leaders.

“As we receive books, we believe they will help improve learners’ performance, reading ability and communication skills,” he stated.

He therefore hailed the private sector for their contribution in improving the education sector both directly and indirectly.

Botswana Book Project director, Mr Ezekiel Malenya said private companies needed to team up as stakeholders to empower learners to grow their talents so they could  sustain their lives in future.

“As government continues to move swiftly towards ensuring the delivery of a knowledge based economy, our strategy for distinctive positioning stands firm in support of these initiatives. We saw it worthy to donate over 10 000 library books to be shared equally to 25 primary schools and three junior schools in the Letlhakeng region,” said Mr Malenya. He also said their donation resulted from the realisation that to compete on a global scale, efficient knowledge value chains must be put in place, which included indigenous knowledge management systems.

He also emphasised that the best way to change the livelihoods of a community was through education hence their focus on literacy, education, youth empowerment, and library development throughout Botswana. He further said that their organisation donated computers, solar study lights for learners in rural areas and also conducted library education and trainings to librarians, teachers, parents as well as non-governmental organisations.

For his part, Kgosi Malang Galeatle of Serinane said he was grateful for such initiatives in his area because it would contribute to plant a seed of knowledge that would last a life time.He encouraged schools to take advantage of the initiatives, saying that would provide long-term benefits to communities and make significant change in the education system. ENDS