Metrological Services Donate Dry Garden To Camp School

Oarabile Molelekwa | Monday August 13, 2018 13:56

Due to a tight budget they faced over the years, the DMS had partnered with some organisations to make the garden possible and in achieving their long time goal of this tremendous idea inspired by the need to make students feel more comfortable in their school environment. 

This is more especially that they have a place to relax during their leisure time.  The donation was presented on Friday.

DMS acting director Balisi Gopolang, acting deputy director Radithupa Radithupa, who did introduction of guests from different departments, attended the event.

Also at the event were the South-East region stakeholder focal person Goleele Lillian Rahube, PRO South-East region Boineelo Ranoko, School Head Inalebe M. Tsele, Parents, Teaachers’ Association chairperson, Jacob Malepa as well as the community of Gaborone. Camp Primary School was founded in 1968, as the first school in the city of Gaborone, built for children whose parents served in the military, hence named after the camps that surrounds it, being Department of Prison Service, Botswana Police Service and Botswana Defence Force.

In her welcome remarks, the jubilant School Head, Tsele stated that their partnership with the DMS has come a long way, and then led to the donation, which she said as the school, they were thankful of. She cited the day as a special one for students as they will use the garden in many ways during their leisure time, and especially for educational purposes, which relates to a topic in the objective syllabus of Guidance, where students are trained how to use and manage their leisure time. “I feel deeply honoured and humbled because the DMS has chosen us at the right time to engage in a conducive learning environment through this dry garden.

“In our ministry of basic education, we have an objective, which we are to drive and strengthen partnerships and stakeholder participation,” she said. She cited that this initiative by the DMS was supposed to have been done in the year 2016. The DMS had approached her office with promises to help with the school’s needs of which she began scripting a very long list with the hope that all will be made possible by the organisation. However, it was delayed by the DMS’ tight budget, but communication between the two institutions was well exchanged in terms of the promise. At last on February, the team finally approached her once again with the good news she long awaited.

Then began the journey after all stakeholders, including the office of the regional director and the PTA, who were consulted.

Some of the organisations partnered with DMS to achieve the goal of donating the garden are, Bobirwa Bricks (Pty) Ltd, from Community Land Access Department Paulson, Haskins and Sons Company, Easy-Built Company and Prison Services.

Giving a speech, the DMS acting director, Gopolang said they found it fit to build a dry garden for students because making sure the learning environment is in good shape, does not only concern the teachers but the community at large.  He further said giving back to the community is a way of showing a sense of ‘Botho’.

“We should look back at 1968 when our country was still fresh from acquiring Independence.

“We had nothing, and it wasn’t easy for the government in terms of education development, but all that has changed. The government is much more focused trying hard to better the educational system.

“If you think educating the nation is expensive, try ignorance and see the outcome,” he said. The public was urged to adopt the spirit of giving to community schools as it may encourage students to develop a positive attitude towards their education, thus producing remarkable results.