30 Jul 2024

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) prioritises education of younger generations, especially those with disabilities, says Ambassador of Turkiye, Mr Ahmet Idem Akay.

Speaking during the handover  of special educational equipment donated by the embassy to Selolwe Junior Secondary School in Francistown yesterday, Mr Akay was hopeful that the equipment worth P285 000 would benefit the visually impaired students.

The Turkish envoy also spelt out interventions in the past to various communities in Botswana, courtesy of the agency.

Acting director in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development, North Region, Mr Boy Olekantse, said the handover of the essential braille equipment was a great milestone for Selolwe Junior Secondary School.

“It is a gesture that embodies our collective commitment to inclusive education and the empowerment of every student. We are here to acknowledge and celebrate this equipment’s arrival and highlight the spirit of collaboration and dedication that has brought us here,” he said.

Furthermore, Mr Olekantse said education was a right for all and should, as such, be accessible to all.

He said now that the North Region had decided to open a visually impaired unit at Selolwe this year to curb the rigour of enrolling them far away in the Kgatleng District, the high-quality equipment and goodwill gesture by the Turks was welcome.

“We aimed to provide the tools that do not only enhance learning but also foster independence and confidence amongst the students,” he stated.

Mr Olekantse thus commended both TIKA and the Turkish embassy for their generosity.

The school head, Ms Bonani Topollo, said the donation came as a great relief and had brought joy to the school community.

“When the academic year 2024 started, we had to open our gates for our first cohort of learners with visual impairment. It was a mixture of excitement and uncertainty at that time,” she said.

She praised the North-East region for its sterling work in seeking assistance from the Republic of Turkiye.

Earlier, when welcoming the Turkish envoy, the Mayor of Francistown, Mr Godisang Radisigo expressed pleasure in receiving the valuable donation from the Turkish embassy.

He particularly appreciated the fact that the donation came at a time when schools were facing acute shortage of resources. Ends