Africa-Press – Botswana. Monarch Primary School in Francistown on Friday celebrated 50 years of existence, producing exceptional members of the society.
Speaking at the event, Acting Director North East Region in the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Ms Kedisaletse Tshukudu said a reasonable number of great people in the country were nurtured at the school.
“We celebrate not only the schools aid but its enduring impact on the tapestry of Botswana.”
Ms Tshukudu said while celebrating such milestone, teachers should be given credit as they were true heroes who spent countless hours teaching not just subjects but character and perseverance.
“We need to give teachers their flowers when they are still alive, they are heroes of excellence and growth, including non teaching staff and PTA members,” she said.
She further said the school would continue to equip learners with critical thinking, creativity and compassion needed to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.
Therefore, urging all concerned stakeholders to continue doing their best to ensure the school’s excellence.
For his part, Monarch Primary School Head, Mr Milner Morapedi said the school had the potential of performing well.
Mr Morapedi highlighted that over the years, the school’s results had been fluctuating but the intention was to change the narrative.
Sharing the history of the school, Ms Josephine Gaolatlhe, a member of Botswana Council for Women (BCW) said the school came into existence after the 1972 floods, which caused havoc in the City, destroying houses, property, disturbing normality for two weeks with children unable to go to school.
Ms Gaolatlhe said with the influence of Lady Ruth Khama through BCW, some members of the affected community went to the office of the District Commissioner and other government departments asking for construction of a school.
She said the floods were an eye opener, their plea was successful and after further consultations and assessment, a decision was taken for the construction of the school in the location.
Currently, Monarch Primary School has a total of 881 students and 35 teachers and other non-teaching staff. The school secured 75.7 per cent in last year Primary School Living Examinations Results (PSLE).
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