BY OBAKENG MAJE
MOKGARENG- THE North West Department of Public Works visited Mokgareng Secondary School in Mokgareng village, near Taung.

The visit was in line with ‘Adopt a school’ programme and those who graced the event was North West Public Works MEC Madoda Sambatha and Greater Taung Local Municipality officials.

Sambatha said the aim of visiting the school was his department’s plan to give back to the communities especially in remote areas.

“We believe that a solid education is one of the most important ways a community can move forward. Which is why we invest in South Africa’s future by focusing on supporting education.

“One way we do this is by making resources available to various schools that need to be equipped to make a difference to the community the government serves,” he said.

According to Sambatha, they will make sure the school is well-resourced and infrastructure will be available to make learning environment very conducive.

“We are here in celebration of the life of our late father, Dr Nelson Mandela. This is an overall provincial celebration. We are adopting each school per region, now Mokgareng Secondary school is the one being chosen in Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati,” Sambatha said.

Public Works MEC said his department will also bring career exhibition to the school and encourage pupils to choose relevant careers where they can be able to be hired within the department.

“We will monitor all pupils and encourage them to choose career path that will benefit their communities. We are lacking skills within the department and that will lift burden off from the department as     shoulders,” he said.

North West Education and Sport Development Circuit Manager in Pudimoe cluster, Lazurus Loojwane said they welcome the initiative brought forward by Public Works.

“This programme will develop the level of education and makes learning atmosphere conducive. There are top-performing learners from under-resourced schools and most of the time they do not get the chance to pursue tertiary studies.

“They miss the opportunity to embark on rewarding and challenging careers and the country fails to benefit from the talent of some of its most brilliant young minds,” Loojwane said.

One of the pupils at Mokgareng Secondary School, Kelebogile Dipone who is in Grade 11 said they highly-appreciate the adoption initiative, and also for their school being chosen.

“It is so rejuvenating  that government have earmarked our school to benefit from this initiative. The department won’t regret investing a significant amount in helping our school to become centre of excellence. This will increasing the number of learners passing because we all will work hard so that we can get scholarship to further our studies,” Dipone said.

The department also handed over food parcels to elderly people in the area, and one of the beneficiaries Annie Seshupo (91) said she appreciate the food parcels and what the government has done.
-TDN
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