The annual Jwaneng-Mabutsane Diamond academic awards were successfully held last week Friday in the mining town after it was suspended for three years as a result of Covid-19.
The awards ceremony is aimed at celebrating the success of both learners, teachers and schools from various primary and junior schools within the Jwaneng zone for their stellar performance in their final examinations.
The awards which celebrated the stellar performers of the year 2019, 2020 and 2021 featured 24 primary schools and four junior schools. At least 120 people included among others students, teachers and best performing schools.
In his opening remarks, Jwaneng mine General Manager Koolatotse Koolatotse indicated that the awards have bred a culture of competitiveness among peers adding that they will continue to academic performance in the region.
“Diamond Dreams Academic Awards are part of our CSI programme and the awards are most important to Jwaneng Mine as they contribute to the Debswana Diamond Company- One Dream One Team (ODOT) strategy,” he said. Kooolatotse added that, “One of the components of the ODOT 2024 Strategy is the Building Forever Pillar, which embodies ‘Education and skills Development for the future.” Koolatotse also stated that apart from the DDAA, they have the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Program – popularly known as STEM which aims to raise awareness of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical career opportunities to girls between the ages of 14 to 19, through coaching and mentoring by Mining engineers and other technical experts. “Since 2021, the STEM programme has benefited 300 students within Jwaneng Mine ZOI. This is commendable considering that the programme started in 2021,” said Koolatotse. For his part, The Chief Executive Officer of Botswana Examinations Council Dr Moreetsi Thobega commended the Jwaneng Debswana mine for introducing these awards. He added that data shows that since inception, academic performance of schools within Jwaneng mine’s zone of influence, has improved marginally.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, I am also reliably informed of the close linkages the Diamond Dream Academic Awards have to the Debswana Government School Development Program (DGSDP), whose main aim is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in government schools within and around Jwaneng,” he said.
Dr Thobega also applauded the teachers for their sterling job for producing top class learners.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, in May 2022, the world commemorated National Teachers Day under the theme “Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery”.
“This theme highlighted the tireless efforts of teachers even during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns. That despite all the challenges and changes brought by the pandemic, teachers continued to work hard to shape the future of generations all over the world,” stated Thobega.
