North West Receives Books Worth P1.2 Million

The Okavango Research Institute (ORI) in collaboration with Macmillan Botswana recently donated library books worth P1.2 million to the North West Regional Education office.

The donation is one way of delivering innovative solutions that will improve learner performance and help educators and institutions to deliver excellent results. The books are to be distributed in all schools across the region.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, the Sales and Marketing Manager at Macmillan Botswana Letsweletse Matlhape said their passion for learning and commitment to elevate education in Botswana to greater heights is second to none.

Matlhape further indicated that Macmillan Botswana firmly believes in strong stakeholder relationships and therefore wishes that the gesture solidifies and intensifies the relationship that already exists with all educational stakeholders present.

He indicated that the books donated cover a wide range of learning abilities and interests therefore their hope is that all learners will find themselves and their interests in many of the books handed over. “There are Setswana books for the avid Setswana readers, fiction and non-fiction, core, and supplementary books in different subject areas,” he noted.

North West Regional Education Director Veronica Mochotlhi expressed gratitude and noted that the donation will facilitate the teaching and learning in the department of basic education. She added that even though the region’s performance history has been unsatisfactory, they are committed to working hard to improve the situation.

Mochotlhi said that they are however proud that since the year 2020 they have been experiencing an increase in value addition within the schools as far as academic results are concerned in all levels.

“We will do everything to facilitate teaching and learning in schools through the help of other stakeholders and we will also ensure that students put these books into good use,” she assured.

For his part, the North West Information Specialist Forum (NWIS) Andreas Mutoroke believes that the donations will nature lifelong learning and he gave an assurance that the education ministry has assessed all the donated books.

Mutoroke explained that NWIS forum was formed in 2008 after the realization of some challenges that include the absence of the national library policy, the fact that library supervisors are mostly not trained and the lack of specific library designed buildings. He noted that the purpose of the forum is to assist and support training of staff from different working groups assigned at libraries, and also recommend measures guarding against the misuse of information.