12 Feb 2024

Mater Spei College has been a key contributor to Botswana’s efforts to produce quality human resources, with the institution’s the journey dating back to the pre-independence era.

A 1975 Mater Spei College alumni Mr Leonard Makwinja said on Friday at the school’s 60th anniversary celebrations that shortage of properly skilled human resources at the time compelled the country to rely heavily on imported skilled labour to nudge forward the different sectors of the economy.

Mr Makwinja, a former deputy managing director of Debswana Diamond Company and former chief executive officer of Botswana Railways said two years prior to independence only 24 of the 184 administrative posts that were available were held by Batswana and at lower levels.

He said the establishment of Mater Spei College and other schools within the same category of education helped reverse the trend by producing competitive graduates who went on to reshape the country’s future.

He said with the academic prowess of its learners, Mater Spei College would constantly beat other senior secondary schools to occupy first position in final examinations for several consecutive years and urged alumni to join efforts and help assist in returning the school to its former days of glory.

Mr Makwinja said those foundational years of excellence were the reason behind the school having many of its graduates in different aspects of the economy today.

“You can hardly find any professional area that does not have Mater Spei College alumni”, he said.Motivating today’s crop of pupils to take their school work seriously in order to become future leaders, Mr Makwinja informed them that education had demonstrated over years to be the biggest social equaliser in life.

He said the school’s alumni were aware of the challenges Mater Spei College faced such as lack of resources and the need for reforms in the education sector to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.

He added that different alumni had mobilised their resources to assist the school in a number of areas and noted that such efforts must be encouraged and sustained.

Recounting his time as a learner  at the school, Mr Makwinja said it had instilled in him a sense of self-discipline which helped him beat the temptation to engage in any form of self-destructive behaviour.

He added that hard work was one great principle that he also attained from the school that has shaped his journey to success.

Minister of Agriculture Mr Fidelis Molao, a Mater Spei College alumni class of 1995 said the school continued to realise growth in terms of physical infrastructure, curriculum evolution and the increase in the numbers of members of staff.

He attributed this to the high calibre of leaders that the school has had over the years, whom he said fully understood and appreciated the critical role that education could play in people’s lives.

Mr Molao described Mater Spei College members of staff as guiding lights, educators of repute, inspirers, motivators and counsellors.

Urging the school to continue to strive to produce 21st century learners who will fit well into the global market, he encouraged staff members not to despair despite the various challenges which they faced as education providers.

Mr Molao encouraged learners to never undermine teachers as they worked hard to mould them into well-rounded individuals.

He said learners should take advantage of the opportunity availed to them to receive some education, saying it was the most important building block for a good future.

Mr Molao said the anniversary celebration did not only mark 60 years of the school’s existence but also paid homage to the spirit of learning, of growth, of unity and that of resilience that had sustained Mater Spei College over the years.

Earlier when delivering welcome remarks, Mater Spei College school head Mr Baboloki Bajiti said the name Mater Spei which translated to ‘Mother of Hope’ resonated well with the school’s dream to rise to the top again.

He said academic standards and performance, effective service delivery, discipline and stakeholders participation were some of the factors that continued to contribute to the success of the school.

Mr Bajiti also noted that qualified and committed teachers were also key stakeholders of success as they made sure that quality education was delivered to the learner.

He however complained of shortage of classrooms leading to overcrowding of pupils and urged different stakeholders and alumni to assist in improving infrastructure to make the learning environment habitable and conducive.

Mr Bajiti also complained of drug and substance abuse, urging parents to refrain from selling drugs to pupils or giving them drugs to sell at school.

Former school head Mr Joseph Tlhoiwe said having good leaders and good policies were key in providing quality education, adding that a positive relationship between teachers and learners was also key as it helped them effectively relate and work together towards achieving a common goal.

He said it was important to set goals and targets and evaluate them in order to improve results and standards.

Mr Tlhoiwe said during his time as the school head there were special programmes in place aimed at helping bridge the gap between high performing learners and those struggling with their studies and added that they also rewarded hard work as a motivational tool for pupils. ENDS