16 Feb 2014

The Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resourses, Mr Kitso Mokaila has praised Majwe Mining Joint Venture for providing Lotlaamoreng Junior Secondary School in Good Hope with cabin offices.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony recently, Mr Mokaila said the mining company had answered one of the government’s calls regarding the Adopt-A-School initiative.

“The mining sector has had a huge impact on the socio economic development of the country, and I wish the entire private sector could support government efforts to develop and implement socially uplifting programmes,” said Mr Mokaila.

He said the initiative was aimed at encouraging stakeholders to partner with schools in order to improve the standard of education and facilities countrywide. Mr Mokaila, who is also the MP for  Barolong, said all stakeholders should work together if the country was to produce good results and provide quality education.

The minister said the mining company’s good will should encourage other organisations to adopt schools across the country. Mr Ian McRae, the mining company’s project director, said they acted in response to the school’s appeal regarding the challenges that hindered them from achieving good results.

Mr McRae said the donation was a joint effort between Majwe Mining, Danoher Contracting Company and Octraco Botswana. “We agreed to purcase cabin offices for the school for P500 000,” he pointed out.

He said as partners in the education sector, it was their aim to improve staff well-being, to motivate and build the confidence and self-esteem of teachers through their  company’s corporate social responsibility policy. “Majwe Mining believes that any the economy is driven by the human resource, hence our substantial investment in training and creating personal growth opportunities,” he said.

The company has donated new shoes and socks to the Mpule Kwelagobe Orphanage Centre, upgraded gardens and constructed fences for some schools, Mr McRae said. The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Patrick Masimolole urged students to study hard.

He said he was concerned about the performance of some schools and students, adding that love affairs, alcohol and drug abuse, were high in some schools. “Education is an asset no one can take away from you, if you are educated you stand a good chance of making it in life,” he said, adding that parents should work with teachers in the up-bringing of students.

He said his ministry was going to avail all books to schools before the end of February to do away students sharing one book. He noted that the mining company’ gesture had brought a good learning environment to the school by providing a conducive environment for both teachers and students. Ends