Pupils debate Vision 2036

Leah Mataboge | Tuesday March 8, 2016 10:31

The Vision 2036 Presidential Task Team (PTT) convened a forum for primary students to share their views on what they hope Vision 2036 will entail.

Vission 2036 PTT Tea One chairperson, Eagile Segosebe, described the exercise as ‘amazing’.

Segosebe said they had anticipated the usual uncontrollable situation from the pupils especially that they were coming from different schools.

“We had planned to have a simple one on one question and answer platform but then we realised that most if not all the pupils wanted to contribute,” she said. Segosebe said the forum gave the majority of pupils an opportunity to share their dreams.

“I hope that in 2036 there will be no Asian shops so that Batswana can have their own businesses,” said Keneilwe Dinake, a student at Bosele PrimarySchool.

A Mophane Primary Standard Seven pupil, Boineelo Mosenki, said she hopes for freedom of speech in Botswana, stating that she feels that the freedom of speech existing in Botswana is not enough as people are sometimes threatened when they speak their minds.

A teacher from Bontleng Primary School, Thuso Kakana, said she hopes the Vision 2036 committee takes heed of the children’s opinions as it is said that experience is a good teacher.

“These children talk from their experiences and as such we should try and meet their expectations,” Kakana said.

Another teacher from Itumeleng Primary School, Alexandre Lesole, said the children’s contributions were very focal and they were impressed with the level of questions and comments from them.

Segosebe said the forum targeted pupils aged between 10 and 16 from 16 primary schools in Gaborone. He said the aim was to impart the mandate of the Vision 2036 PTT to the pupils and have them share their views.

“They were very vibrant and eager to share their dreams; unbelievable what we saw this afternoon,” Segosebe said.

Vision 2036 PTT Team One comprises of Segosebe, Sarah Dibe and Gogontle Phaladi, representing the youth, Pastor Master Matlhaope of the Ministers’ Fraternal and Sekgabo Ramsay, representing the disabled community and the former commissioner of police, Thebeyame Tsimako.