MINE INVESTS OVER 2.4 MILLION MOKOBOXANE SCHOOL Orapa, Letlhakane and Damtshaa Mines (OLDM) have adopted Mokoboxane Primary School and have invested more than P2.4 million to build classrooms, an administration block and a library. The acting Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Mokgweetsi Masisi, said during the ground-breaking ceremony in Mokoboxane on July 8 that Debswana heeded government’s call for innovative partnerships in education through the Adopt-a-School initiative. Mr Masisi said government introduced the initiative to deliver quality education by using the vast human resources, experience, talents of individuals and the business community to strengthen, enhance and enrich the quality of education in public schools. Construction work was awarded to a local contractor, Jacker North West Tswana, and the project will be completed within five months. The scope of work entailed construction of a three-classroom face brick block, with a gross floor area of 300 square metres and acoustic folding partitions to enable it to be used as a multi-purpose hall as and when required. The project also includes construction of a combined administration office block and a combined library or computer laboratory, associated site works and services, with a gross floor area of 230 square metres. Minister Masisi said the education sector expected learners to make meaningful contribution to the economy. “They would feed in to their local economies but would need to be shown how, by you, the professionals in the area,” he said. He implored Debswana to offer skills and experience by way of entrepreneurship training, coaching and mentoring for both teachers and learners. He said the partnership between OLDM and Boteti Sub-district Council and the Boteti community was one of note. Mr Masisi called on the leadership and management of Mokoboxane Primary School to nurture and jealously guard their relationship with OLDM through heightened motivation for teaching, learning and ensured that there was proper maintenance of all constructed buildings. He said there should be a clear return on investment benefits. OLDM senior support services manager, Mr Thatayaone Sithole, said in 2013 Debswana responded to government’s call for public private partnership in education by adopting Mokoboxane Primary School. Mr Sithole said through the initiative, OLDM hoped to strengthen and improve Mokoboxane Primary School’s programmes and curricular; and to create and maintain a sustainable cooperation between OLDM and the school. He said the relationship would result in a number of projects that included building a new and revamped library. Mr Sithole said OLDM would consider helping the school with specialist teachers in mathematics, science and English to help improve standard seven results. Also, OLDM was thinking about helping Letlhakane Senior Secondary School. Orapa Junior Secondary School benefited from OLDM support and it was doing well. He described the P2.4 million donation as another milestone in the 45-year expedition of diamonds for development. Ms Francinah Masole, the headteacher of Mokoboxane Primary School, said the school, whose first enrolment was in 1992, had a wide catchment area and an ever-increasing number of pupils, hence shortage of classrooms. Ms Masole said there were three classes for standard three but only two classes. Other impediments were the absence of a library, inadequate staff room and shortage of teachers’ houses. She expressed gratitude for the donation. She also said she was looking forward to receiving specialist teachers from Orapa. ENDS Source : BOPA
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 10:15:01 +0000
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