Kagisano goes back to School

GREG KELEBONYE
Staff Writer | Wednesday January 27, 2010 00:00

It took the kind heart of Botswana's yesteryear football star, Edwin Disang, for Kagisano to go back to school. Upon reading about the boy's plight, Disang, who has just completed his studies in the United States immediately sent money to a family member in Botswana, with the instruction that the boy's debt should be paid.

The family member, an aunt of Disangs, was as eager to play her role in helping re-shape Kagisano's future.

'Disang sent money and we managed to clear the debt which included the Parents Teacher's Association levy, money for replacement of lost books, and a pending school fee debt,' said Disang's aunt Odirile Disang. That kind gesture by the Disangs got other systems involved in the boy's welfare: Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School officially enrolled the boy for form four. That was after Disang took another step further by presenting the debt clearance certificate and an admission form to Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School. These were from Mostswasele Junior Secondary School where the boy schooled previously.

' The school has issued an acceptance letter and the boy's mother was going to be meeting with the social worker, when I last spoke with her,' said Disang.

Kgari Sechele Secondary School head, Innocent Kologwe said the school has indeed accepted the boy for the form four class.

'As a school we may not be able to assist the boy monetarily, but we will be meeting with him to see how best we can assist him,' he said.

'Obviously there are many cases like this, and we hope that after reading about the boy, people will come forward for assistance and those who can assist should also play their role,' he said.

Kagisano's sister Mareko Otlogeleng told Mmegi that her mother has met the social worker and the council has bought the boy's school uniform.

'We are very happy for the assistance that Mmegi and Edwin Disang and his family extended to us. We look forward to my brother finishing school and going on to university. This is a gesture we will never forget,' she said.  The good Samaritan, Edwin Disang said that he did not understand a system that could deny a child the right to go to school 'because he owes as little as P770.' ' This child is too young not to be going to school.  By denying him an opportunity to go to school those responsible were essentially condemning him to a life of poverty as success in life, especially in Botswana, starts with having at least completed secondary education,' he said adding that together with a group of friends in the US and home, he would be able to follow-up the boy's case and assist him, with a view to ensuring that he completes his studies.

'Kagisano's family, as are many rural families, too poor and can scarcely put food on the table. A debt such as what was owed by their boy can be too steep to pay. The boy may only be one among many. It is out of a realisation that too much injustice similar to what happened to Kagisano, is taking place in rural areas, that we are now working on an organisation that will help underprivileged children in those areas,' said Disang.