HRDC Espouses Excellence in Education Through Sponsoring St Joseph’s College Prize Giving

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) and its strategic partners continue to respond to the national outcry at a critical time when education is facing dire challenges.

HRDC is entrusted with driving the Country’s human capital agenda, therefore will be remiss if it does not contribute towards nurturing the entire education pipeline as envisaged in the National Human Resource Development Strategy (NHRDS).

Prize Giving Ceremonies are some of the academic rewards mechanisms that can spur excellence thereby enhancing Botswana’s educational supply chain which ultimately leads to good work ethic.  Notably, HRDC believes that prize giving should not only be for learners but also for teaching staff and leadership of the school as reward for excellence and good work ethic towards a knowledge – based society.

On the 6th September 2016, St Joseph’s College held a prize giving ceremony to celebrate its academic success. HRDC recognised St Joseph’s College academic performance through sponsoring its prize giving ceremony with a total amount of P 10,000.00. Through this sponsorship, HRDC is in support of brilliant efforts geared towards promoting education excellence in Botswana. St Joseph’s College has perpetually displayed excellence by attaining first in overall examinations’ results for Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) since 2012 to date.

This event was graced by the Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Honourable Minister Tshekedi Khama. In his address, Guest Speaker Honourable Minister Tshekedi Khama shared his gratitude for being part of this great occasion of celebrating and promoting excellence in Botswana’s education.

Honourable Minister Tshekedi Khama stated that education and training is one sector that the Government of Botswana considers to be important in contributing towards the Country’s economy.  He praised the teachers, learners and parents for their collective and amicable teamwork that continuously ensures St Joseph’s College excels in its academic performance.

“Through hard work and dedication which St Joseph’s College has consistently displayed for the past years, I praise you all to have contributed towards the good academic performance of the school and I implore you to even do better in future.” said Honourable Tshekedi Khama.

During the ceremony, St Josephs’ College School Head, Ms Constance Male, an undoubtedly ‘force to reckon with’, applauded the students and school staff for collective efforts in ensuring that the school becomes successful in its academic performance. She has ensured that the school maintains position one and remained at the top of the academic ladder for the past five years.

She proudly asserts, “Academic excellence is a brooch that ‘St Joe’s teachers as it is commonly called, wear with pride.  I am also elated and owe it to my principals who saw it fit to support the school with all befitting resources. 

This smooth sailing ship would not have taken off half a decade ago and it is evidently clear that it has evaded prevailing academic ice-bergs that sunk many schools to the floor of the academic ladder. I thank my team; we are a good team working together.”

Ms Male also expressed his gratitude to HRDC not only for sponsoring the event, but for its contribution to the School’s academic success. 

“HRDC, a human capital development organisation is one of the organisations which have been part of our success plan. The organisation has contributed to our school performance through offering career guidance services to our students. We are therefore delighted for this service and we encourage HRDC to continue contributing towards Botswana’s education” jubilantly said Ms Male. 

Offering a word of encouragement during the prize giving, Ms Nolwani Warona Kaoya, attorney at Mogale Legal Practice emphasised that academic excellence is not a sole responsibility of any individual or department but it requires all stakeholders to work together as a team. “The purpose of this event is not only to recognise and celebrate the achievements of outstanding performers, but also serve as an encouragement to those who may not be doing so well to do better.” said Ms Kaoya. 

St Joseph’s College Prize giving is one among many initiatives that the HRDC has supported with an intention to positively contributing to Botswana’s education system. It is through supporting these initiatives that HRDC also drives its strategic goal of making Botswana’s human resource globally competitive by 2026.

 

 

News Date: 
Tuesday, September 6, 2016