Nine primary schools in Molepolole South on Tuesday received over 5000 books worth P180 000 from Paper 4 Africa in collaboration with Minister for State President also Member of Parliament for Molepolole South, Kabo Neal Sechele Morwaeng.
The nine school heads accompanied by headmen, Village Development Committee (VDC) and Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) members received the donations at Sebele 1 Primary School.
Lephaleng, Lekgwapheng, Lewis, Bonewamang, Neal, Sebele, Mokgopeetsane, Mmanoko and Gamodubu primary schools were each receiving 600 books both plain, quad and exam pads for teachers.
Giving a vote of thanks at the event, Chief Education Officer Mariah Dikeme noted that they have experienced a decline in Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results, further noting that the donation came the right time when the ministry has budgetary constraints.
“Our secondary schools continue to make us proud as we have Dithejwane being the best in the region and amongst the top 20 nationally. Masilo is the second best in the region and has also performed above the national target. Kgari Sechele has improved and is in position 18 out of 34, a much better performance from their last but one position in 2020,” said an impressed Dikeme.
She revealed that by December 2020 text books availability was 35 percent for primary, 41 and 53percent for junior and senior secondary schools respectively.
The CEO noted that the ministry feels encouraged whenever political leadership and business community give adequate attention to education thus translate to good classroom practice and good performance.
Appreciating Paper 4 Africa, MP Morwaeng said it is important to stay alive to the fact that good grades at high school are not an isolated manifest of only hard work at secondary schools.
“It is a lifelong process that starts with early childhood foundation all the way through primary education. The intervention by Paper 4 Africa is therefore a vital building block for basic education at primary school level. Bagaetsho, your gesture is a direct contribution towards a knowledge based economy of this country,” added MP Morwaeng.
He further encouraged learners to take the privilege to reciprocate with good grades, further appreciating and urging the parents, teachers and ministry to continue with good team spirit for producing good results and even aim higher to do better.
When handing the books, Paper 4 Africa General Manager, Georgina Tshimo, said the company started donating books in 2014 with the mandate to cover all the constituencies.
They started donating books in areas such as Tutume, Bobirwa, Maun, Tonota and Ramotswa just to mention a few.
The company says it aims to reach Kgalagadi areas where there is shortage of shops for students and teachers to buy stationary.
However, Tshimo appreciated assistance from SAPPI company which made all their donations successful.
“We take this opportunity to thank SAPPI for making sure that we have paper, even through very difficult times. Without the assistance of SAPPI we would not have been able to make this donation,” noted a delighted Tshimo.
Through efforts by Minister Morwaeng, Masilo Junior School and Kgari Sechele Senior have recently received photocopying machines, while Sedumedi Junior and Gamodubu Primary School received food rations for boot camps.
