24 Apr 2014

Knowledge is power. Education is the key to success. These two statements add emphasis on the need to promote education in order to improve living standards.

Kgalagadi South Brigade is one learning institution that bears in mind the importance of promoting education and producing quality students who will contribute to sustainable development of Botswana.

Founded in 1995 by four visionaries: Messrs Dick Mweshi, Enock Neko and Otsile Bailelwang as well as Ms Silviah Kalenga, the brigade became active in 1998 after its founders convinced the communities that it was a viable undertaking and that they should be part of it.

Mr Mweshi, the principal and a co-founder, said teaching and learning started at Tsabong Community Hall in 2001 after the Kgalagadi South accepted the idea of having an institution of higher learning in their area.

He said: “The process of starting a learning institution is very long and full of challenges. It needs many brains and hands to carry it out. It is in such cases when you realize the importance of cooperation and oneness. We had to approach the villagers for help.

At first, it was hard to convince them on the necessity of this project but in the end we managed to convince them of the vitality of having a higher learning institution in their area and they agreed with our ideas.”

The brigade started with 30 students, two lecturers and it was offering only two courses: a certificate in computer studies and a certificate in bookkeeping and accounts. Each course lasted two years. Mr Mweshi said lack of computer literacy among the people of Kgalagadi, especially the youth then, prompted them to think of a way of solving this problem, hence the inception of Kgalagadi South Brigade.

Another factor that contributed to the commencement of the brigade, he said, was that many youths, especially those who did not do well in their form three and form five examinations, did not have anything to do. For such youths, he added, that brigade could give them another chance for educational advancement.

He added: “When I came to Tsabong, I realized that most people in the area were computer illiterate. I also realized that the youth who did not pass their form three and form five were left with nothing worthwhile to do and were roaming the streets. We and other co- founders thought of a way to address these two situations and we thought that the erection of a brigade in the area was the best possible solution and we settled for it. The brigade creates a platform in which students who did not do well in their JC and BGCSE to get a second chance at education and giving them a chance to rebuild the broken walls in their lives.”

Mr Mweshi said that with the help of residents and other donors, they secured finances to build a structure of their own and that in 2004 the brigade moved from operating in the community hall to its premises in Botsogile ward.
He said since its inception in 1995, the brigade has since grown to accommodate 40 students from the initial 30.

The 40 students are divided into two classes of 20 students each to create an environment in which students could learn well. Some students come from far-flung places such as Ghanzi and Maun. Staff complement has grown from two to 22, comprising four lecturers, a supplies officer, three kitchen staff, two cleaners, a gatekeeper, a driver, two grounds men, a messenger, two Accounts officers, four night watchmen and the principal.

The management of the brigade is planning to introduce another course, that is, a certificate in accounting and business studies but was awaiting approval from the Botswana Qualification Authority. The duration of each course has changed from two years to one.

Mr Mweshi said the Kgalagadi South Brigade was not only an institution where teaching and learning took place but also where compassion, botho, respect, cooperation and discipline are instilled.

He said that the brigade constantly shows compassion to members of the community. For instance, it donated a garden to elderly members of Maubelo last year and was presently building a house and fencing a yard for a less fortunate person who was left homeless after her house was gutted by fire in Tsabong’s Legonono ward recently.

The brigade has reserved one Friday every month as community service day on which it carries out charitable deeds. Some of the graduates from the brigade have advanced to institutions such as Baisago University College and Gaborone Institute of Professional Studies.

Another contribution to the community is that the brigade often offers bricklaying workshops for poverty alleviation. It also offers short courses such as basic computer skills for employees of the Kgalagadi District Council. The brigade, however, has challenges.

Chief among them is lack of infrastructure to effectively carry out learning and teaching processes.

“The brigade has no fixed buildings,” Mr Mweshi said. “We only have two classrooms, four staff houses, and a kitchen and staff room which were all built with the help of donors. This situation leads to the brigade enrolling only a limited number of students.”

Another challenge is lack of transport. The brigade is situated far from offices and the mall where many industrial activities take place and usually they need to have transport to go there and carry out some activities for the institution. Lack of transport puts strain in the daily running of the brigade as on most instances some activities end up not being carried out on time.

Another challenge, he said, is lack of fulltime personnel. The brigade relies on the services of temporary staff, especially lectures. This is a challenge because each time management change lecturers, some students fail to adjust to new situation. As a result, learning is affected.

Mr Mweshi also said the courses offered by the brigade were limited and this disadvantaged students who wanted to learn more. This also leads to some students choosing a course just because they want to have a certificate even if they did not like the course.

In future, the brigade – the first and the best institution of higher learning in Kgalagadi South -- plans to increase its variety of courses such as refrigeration and air conditioning, auto-mechanics, leatherworks and many others. The brigade also plans to enrol more students, upgrade staff and offer some diploma and degree level courses. The brigade also wants to set up a branch at Middlepits.

Mr Mweshi said the Kgalagadi South Brigade was driven by its values of transparency, integrity, botho, honesty and respect in its mission to provide quality, accessible and equitable technical and vocational education and training to enable individuals to contribute to national socio-economic and technological advancement.  ENDS