Oliver Modise
21 November 2007
Gaborone — Gaborone Senior Secondary School (GSS) student, Boineelo Mogapaesi has won the Southern African Development Community (SADC) essay competition walking away with a grand prize of $500 (P3 000).
This year's assay theme was "Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation". It was to showcase knowledge of challenges facing the SADC region. The Mochudi girl beat competitors from all the fifteen SADC member states.
Performing the prize giving award at GSS yesterday, Assistant Minister of Education, Moggie Mbaakanyi applauded SADC for supporting educational endeavours, more so that this principle was hinging on the country's pillar of an "informed and educated nation".
"This is the second time in GSS that she has won a prize, she said," pointing out that this showed her commitment to her studies as well as development issues around her.
Mbaakanyi said that Boineelo's excellence showed that she had good teachers and great mentors. "She would not possibly perform at this level without the encouraging hand of her teachers", she said. The minister commended the girl's parents for supporting her through out her schooling.
In an interview, an excited Boineelo said that she was planning on saving the money. She indicated that besides her effort, credit should go to her former history teacher, Phillimon Montsho who coordinated her research.
"I would also like to thank my English teacher, Mrs. Kgosidintse for helping me out with my grammar," she said.
Montsho said he was impressed with the young girl for working independently throughout. "I am not surprised she has won", said Montsho. He indicated that through the scheme book, test results and examination, he managed to identify two females and one male pupil to enter the competition.
"I aided them to gather information on SADC and further gave them a deadline date to draft their essays," narrated Montsho.
"Her first draft had a lot of agricultural solutions and lacked balance," he said. "After three months of research, the young girl's final script was ready for the competition," he revealed.
Motsho who has been transferred from GSS to head the social studies department at Kagiso Senior Secondary School in Ramotswa indicated that she was extremely impressed about her former pupil.
Celebrating his daughter's victory, Mogomotsi Mogapaesi told Mmegi that she was definitely sure her daughter was going to pass her Form IV examination.
"Am grateful to my daughter for being well behaved and full of self-respect in her love for education", he said.
Boineelo is a week away from completing her Form Five examinations at GSS.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 Mmegi/The Reporter. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
