04 Oct 2023

 Retired teacher, Ms Baipidi Mereyabone has been described as a proficient employee who has left an indelible mark in the teaching profession. 

Ms Mereyabone, whose career spans 39 years, was showered with accolades in appreciation of her relentless service during a ceremony organised by her former students in Khuis on Saturday.

The celebrations, which also attracted people from eSwatini and South Africa, saw members of the community gifting her three sheep and four goats in addition to the other gifts among them P18 000 by her former students. 

Her maiden family the Setshogelas in Middlepits appreciated her with P6 000, while those from South Africa offered her R4 900.

Director of regional operations (Kgalagadi region) under the Ministry of Education and Skills Development Ms Maipelo Kesenye appreciated Ms Mereyabone’s good work ethic and agility in employing a variety of teaching methods in a school setting.

Ms Mereyabone started teaching in 1983 and retired in December 2022 as head of department for Learning Difficulties. 

Her track record can be traced back to Werda, Bokpits, Khuis, Bopaganang, Khawa, and Middlepits primary schools.

“She is a woman of substance who stood her ground and she is not afraid to give you a piece of her mind. I credit her for being able to control students,” she said.

Ms Kesenye appreciated her invaluable contribution to the education sector, which she said was the reason why her former students organised a retirement party. 

“It is rare to find teachers treated this way. It shows she is different and indeed a woman of worth,” she said.

Her former pupil at Khuis Primary School in 1989, Ms Segomotsi Mmoloki described Ms Mereyabone as a unique teacher who would go all out to get something done for them. 

“She taught us during tough times when a thatched mud hut served as a classroom and she was one of the few teachers who would go the extra mile to get something done,” she said.

She remembers back in the days during school choir and ball sports competitions how Ms Mereyabone would use her family truck to make their participation possible. 

“This includes times when there will not be enough food at school, but she will ensure the whole school is fed through her resources. We appreciate her for the sacrifices,” she said.

Some of the pupils who have gone through her hands have turned out to be doctors, scientists, engineers, and social workers and to that, she thanked Ms Mereyabone for having worked with distinction such that today, they were now contributing in various sectors of the economy.

Botswana Teachers Union representative Mr Ntsholetsang Ncana said Ms Mereyabone was an epitome of an exemplary teacher who exuded passion in teaching. 

“She was a strict teacher who moulded pupils accordingly. I am not surprised that her pupils have done this for her. She had a great impact in the teaching fraternity and in the community at large,” he said.

Her former supervisor and former Khuis school head teacher Mr Piethus Sento, who worked with Ms Mereyabone in 2002, described her as an efficient teacher who shook up the teaching profession by keeping learners motivated.

Coupled with her ability to work in a constantly evolving environment, he said she was able to adjust to teaching methods based on the age of her pupils and available resources including the changing curriculum, practices and requirements. 

“She was able to engage pupils with humor, and had a strong classroom presence, which is an important part of what makes a good teacher, he said.

The 60-year-old Ms Mereyabone appreciated her former students and the community for recognising her value in impacting their lives. 

She reminisced about the time she taught in remote areas when resources were scarce with very limited technology.

“The school facilities were not so developed as today. We taught under trees and in mud huts and these days school facilities have improved tremendously. There were no reception classes, ngwana o ne a tla a tswa kwa morakeng kwa re bo re simolola re mo ruta go goloka, it was not easy but we managed,” she said with a smile.

For his part, Khuis Kgosi Bothata Botsheleng acknowledged Ms Mereyabone for her indelible mark in service delivery. 

He encouraged youth to emulate her and uphold Botho as it could take them far in life. ends