Africa-Press – Botswana. Mmopane Primary School on Tuesday celebrated its 2023 PSLE class, which attained a 98.3 per cent pass, and thus got first position in the Kweneng region and number 12 in all primary schools in Botswana.
Mmopane Primary School, which is the third China-aided school in Botswana, was opened in 2021 with the vision of ‘Aligned for excellence’.
Speaking during the celebrations, Mr Guo Zhenguang, Deputy Chief of Mission of Chinese Embassy congratulated the school and the students for their outstanding results.
He said China and Botswana had a similar educational vision, and that was why the Chinese Embassy had aided three schools in Botswana namely Kubung, Serowe and Mmopane primary schools.
Mr Zhenguang assured that the Chinese Embassy would continue to assist in uplifting pupils, carry the responsibility of fulfilling the dreams of learners and building a better future of the relations of China and Botswana.
Addressing the pupils, president of Botswana Football Association (BFA), Mr Maclean Letshwiti applauded the school on the tremendous results.
He said education and sport were intertwined as they both contributed to an individual’s developmental and physical development. He stated that most students who were physically active tended to do exceptionally well in their studies.
Mr Letshwiti said that the school’s performance proved that learners could excel regardless of their background.
Mr Simon Coles, the deputy permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development commended the school on its learners’ good discipline as well as its tidiness.
He acknowledged that it was not easy to attain such good results, especially given that the school had been in operation for only three years.
He said the results were testimony that hard work paid.
Motivating the celebrants, Mr Otsile Morake, who is currently studying for a PhD in China, said in life one had to stand up and grab opportunities that come their way.
He gave his testimony of having had a dream from Standard Seven to become the first one in his family to have a PhD.
He stated that when he first got to China in 2013, he told his friends that he would leave the country with a red gown, which is part of the graduation attire worn by PhD graduands.
Mr Morake said one had to know what was important to them and that the pupils could take him as an example as he now speaks a language spoken by 1.3 billion people only because he focused on what was important and listened to the advice of his parents and teachers and worked hard.
“They call me versatile because I have excelled in both sports and education.
Please use time wisely; 1pm is 1pm and not 1:30pm.
Remember time is money,” said Mr Morake.
The school also celebrated its teachers for making pupils get good marks.
The School head, Ms Gagoitsiwe stated that the school had 28, out of which 25 attained 80 per cent and above pass mark while five teachers managed 100 per cent for the PSLE examination.
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