25 Aug 2026

The adoption of Hereford Primary School by Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) has brought renewed hope to a school grappling with geographical isolation, limited exposure and poor academic performance. 

The school was officially adopted through WUC’s three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, which aims to support educational development, digital empowerment, environmental stewardship and community upliftment. 

Speaking at the adoption ceremony, WUC chief executive officer, Mr Gaselemogwe Senai, said their responsibility extended beyond providing water and wastewater services, adding that they also had a role to play in developing communities and supporting schools where the country’s future leaders were nurtured. 

As part of the immediate support, WUC donated five computers for the school’s computer laboratory, printer toners and whiteboard markers. The Corporation further committed to support the school through STEM, career exposure programmes and infrastructure support.Mr Senai said the investment in Hereford Primary School was an investment in the future, adding that the computers provided were intended to open opportunities for learners to access knowledge, innovation and technology. 

He said WUC hoped the initiative would inspire learners to dream bigger and pursue careers in different fields. Hereford Primary School head Ms Keatametse Mokgatitshwane said the intervention came at a critical time to a school that faced challenges associated with its remoteness; with the nearest service centre, Werda, located about 55 kilometres away. She said the bad and poorly maintained road connecting the village to other areas made movement difficult, particularly when the school needed to take learners to regional activities. 

To Ms Mokgatitshwane, limited mobility meant that learners were often confined to their village, depriving them of opportunities to gain broader knowledge and exposure beyond their immediate surroundings. 

She identified lack of exposure as one of the factors contributing to the school’s poor academic performance, noting that the school recorded 34.1 per cent pass rate in the previous Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). She said  WUC’s intervention brought hope not only for improved educational outcomes but also for better working conditions for staff. 

Regional Director of Education, Ms Neo Tsietso, said the adoption reflected the importance of viewing education from a multi-sectoral approach. She said that the approach had previously led to the formation of Adopt-A-School Programme, which encouraged different sectors to contribute towards improving education. 

She welcomed WUC’s initiative, describing it as a significant intervention for the school, which she said had experienced poor performance. 

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) representative, Mr Lawrence Tsebeng expressed hope that the adoption would encourage more sectors and organisations to come forward and contribute to the development of Hereford.ENDS