Africa-Press – Botswana. Wild Entrust Africa has entered into a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development aimed at empowering learners on issues of sustainable conservation.
The partnership will deliver coaching conservation’s Learning from Wildlife programme to all 75 primary schools in Ngamiland.
Speaking during a workshop themed: Empowering Tomorrow’s Leaders Through Collaboration in Education and Sustainable Conservation on Friday, Batswana deputy chief, Kgosi Kealetile Moremi hailed the collaboration, saying it was a paradigm shift in the delivery of education system.
She commended Wild Entrust Africa for its dedication to environmental education in schools coupled with providing essential resources such as books and posters. She said it had not only enriched the learning experience of pupils, but had also empowered them to become stewards of the environment.
“It is crucial to recognise that these learners are the future leaders and as such it is imperative that we equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the world they will inherit,” she said, adding that the programme would foster a deep understanding and appreciation of the environment while instilling values of conservation and sustainability.
Kgosi Moremi said Chiefs Island in Moremi Game Reserve and Maun Educational Park were initiatives that sought to merge conservation and education in the region.
She said by harnessing the rich biodiversity of the region, the programme offered the opportunity to create a unique learning environment that not only promoted academic excellence, but also cultivated a deep connection to nature.
She added that the coaching conservation initiative had the same vision as their forefathers, as the programme was basically trying to build responsible citizens who took care of the ecosystem.
Kgosi Moremi said it was also important to acknowledge the pivotal role that Ngamiland played, noting that the region hosted the famous Okavango Delta, which was internationally recognised as teeming with diverse wildlife.
“Our region serves as a beacon of conservation excellence and a magnet for tourists from around the globe,” she said.
She also noted human-wildlife conflict, saying it was topical in the international sphere, and that coaching conservation would inculcate a sense of awareness and responsibility in learners.
Principal education officer, Ms Veronica Ridge thanked the ministry for the partnership with Wild Entrust Africa.
She said the programme supplemented schools’ curriculum and urged teachers to support it as it provided benefits such as motivating learners who were not academically gifted to love school and participate in class.
Founder and director of Wild Entrust Africa, Ms Lesly McNutt said through the programme they achieved significant milestones and commended stakeholders for the support, including the Ministry of Education.
The partnership, she said, solidified nearly 20 years of collaboration. She noted that through the programme they had benefited more than 15 000 learners in primary schools in the North West region.
She said coaching conservation had instilled values and inspired children to care about themselves, each other and the natural world since 2004.
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