The Pan Afrikanist Watchman

China and Botswana attach great importance to education, the Chinese Ambassador, His Excellency, Wang Xuefeng told a gathering of Mmopane primary school teachers and students Friday, July 29^th.

Ambassador Wang had visited the China-aided school that was built at a cost of P75 million for the first time since he arrived in Botswana last year. The purpose was to familiarise himself with the challenges facing the school and teachers as well as to give the students some gifts.

Ambassador Wang said that in Chinese culture education is held in high esteem and is seen as something that can make one’s life more meaningful.  In fact, his government has always regarded education as one of the priorities in bilateral cooperation.

That is why the capacity-building program was included in the nine programs of China-Africa practical cooperation that President Xi Jinping announced last year (2021) during the 8^th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Wang elaborated that the purpose of this capacity-building program is to help African counties to improve educational conditions and train more talents. And indeed Botswana has and continues to benefit in this aspect of bilateral cooperation with China.

So far three China-aided schools in Serowe, Maun, and Mmopane have been successfully built, while the fourth one in Kazungula is under construction, and according to the Chinese envoy, progress is satisfactory and they hope to finish this year.

Wang continued that in aid of education, last year they introduced an annual Chinese Ambassador Scholarship to reward students who achieve top academic performance. Skills training, international student programs, and people-people exchanges are also offered to support Batswana of all ages.

In her keynote address, the school head Mrs. Gagoitsiwe Marata traced the origins of the beautiful school, which forms part of Mmopane Block 1 landscapes, to last year.

Marata said that the school opened on the 19th of January 2021 with about 642 learners from Standard One up to Standard Five. Considering the teacher-student ratio, the school’s carrying capacity should be 660, but by the end of 2021, the roll was 645.

“As of now, the roll is 778 from Standard One up to six. In 2024 we will be having our first completing classes, standard sevens”, she said, adding that they promise to record an exceptional pass rate in grades A, B, and C.

Highlighting some of the challenges, Marata said that they record overwhelming numbers (15 in a week) of parents seeking space for their children at the school every day.

She expressed concern that they have already exceeded their carrying capacity even though they do not have Standard sevens and hinted that they may be forced in the future to introduce the shift system in order to cater to these numbers.

Another challenge that the school faces is the need for a bigger photocopying machine. The school is not connected to the sewer line and with the number of students, it can sometimes be a “messy situation” when the ablution blocks are not emptied, especially since the government has no money!

But not one to dwell on the negatives, Marata said that they are working hard with the help of the Chinese Embassy, Longxin Construction Company, and Local Government ministry, and the Parents Teachers Association to do well in examinations.

In her welcome remarks, the Acting Deputy School Head Mrs. Sadi Ramolemoge described H.E Wang as a great and selfless man considering the way he upholds himself before the nation of Botswana and the Mmopane primary school.

She said that despite her vast population, China saw it fit to carve a relationship with Botswana underpinned by the values of sincere friendship; trust, mutual respect, and mutual benefit.  

Ramolemoge said they were honoured to be in the presence of the Chinese envoy and his team, which included Ms. Chen Hong, the new Director of the Political Section of the embassy who succeeds Mr. Li Han, who has since returned to Beijing; and Ms. Wang Jie, the third secretary at the embassy.

 The school has performed exceptionally well recording 61, 4 percent in the first term of 2021, and 74, 2 percent at the end of the year. Ramolemoge said the school managed to rise again at the beginning of this year in line with their tagline, ‘aligned for excellence’.

Ramolemoge attributed the exceptional performance to the “cordial relationship” that subsists between the 26 teachers, seven support staff consisting of three kitchen workers and four cleaners; and the PTA.

Students’ representative, Akujalo Phuthego from Standard six also had her fair chance to express the student community’s gratitude to the Chinese embassy for a “wonderful and meaningful school donation”, which she said has paved the way from the grassroots and given them hope “for our future”.

Akujalo boasted that they wear their school uniforms with confidence and march the corridors with majesty. “Now children like me no longer walk long distances to school, we are very happy to be enrolled in Mmopane primary school,” she said citing the beautiful buildings that adorn the school premises, world-class computers, and science labs.

The master of ceremony, Mr. David Ditsopi Banyatsang promised that indeed they would, together with the learners, take care of the classrooms and the buildings.

Ambassador Wang encouraged the pupils to participate in the ‘Talk with Taikonauts’, which is a program launched in early July this year by Chinese embassies in African countries, designed to provide an opportunity for young children to talk with Chinese astronauts between the earth and space so as to “cultivate the passion and interest of youths in science and space exploration”.

His advice to the learners was to remind them that they are the future of Botswana and the future of China-Botswana friendship as well. “I hope that all of you study, grow up healthy and happy, and become the pillars of the society and the country”.

Giving a vote of thanks, the head of the department Mr. Nelson Kwatakwa observed that the 47 years of diplomatic relations between China and Botswana had brought tangible benefits such as the Mmopane primary school to Botswana that are evident to all and sundry.

Kwatakwa also applauded Ambassador Wang for his commitment to children’s education. The Chinese envoy had earlier indicated that a nation that thrives does so through its youth.

He appealed to parents and all critical stakeholders in children’s lives to stand up and protect children in any way they can, as per the Children’s Act which places the burden of protection on each and every person that is responsible for that child.

The ceremony ended with a prayer performed by Pastor Stephen Sebolaaphuti of the Apostolic Faith Mission, Mmopane.