03 Dec 2024

In an effort to develop sport to attain desired results, government is considering making school sports part of the education curriculum.

Speaking during a visit to Mahupu Unified Secondary School in Takatokwane recently, Minister of Sport and Arts Jacob Kelebeng said the school had the state of art sports facilities, which could be used to groom talent among students.

He said as part of the ministry’s portfolio, he has to make sure that school sports were revived, adding that government was aware that not all students were academically gifted, as some were talented with different sporting codes, which they could use to earn a good life.

The minister therefore said sporting facilities at Mahupu needed to be put to good use for the development of sports in Botswana. 

Kelebeng, who is also the Member of Parliament for Takatokwane constituency, said developed countries ingratiated sport as part of learning and that is why they were excelling.

He assured the school management that they were in talks to bring back sports to school and believes that the matter would be concluded cordially. 

Kelebeng was worried that sporting facilities were not maintained for a long time, which ultimately led to their destruction and or a higher cost in bringing them back to use.

He said the school had softball and football fields, basketball, volleyball, lawn tennis and netball courts with stands, which could be used to groom talent. 

The minister said the sport facilities could also be used to host national sports games.

“This is the beginning of my visit to different schools to see the facilities they have around the country, and that school sports should commence immediately,” he added. 

He said budget has been availed for those who will coach students and such would be a temporary measure while a lasting solution to make sport part of learning was being considered.

Mahupu Unified school head Siamisang Mokgolodi said they were going through challenges, among them lack of funds to properly run the school.

He said the school does not have a resident nurse to attend to sick students, had overdue cyclic maintenance and experience lack of interest for school by RADP students as well as their involvement in vandalising school property.

On school sports facilities he said they have two volleyball courts, two netball courts, two lawn tennis courts, two basketball courts, two football pitches and two softball pitches.

He said sport activities stopped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mokgolodi said the sport facilities were not maintained in a long time.

Takatokwane ward councilor, Johane Gaosafele said something must be done to bring sports back to school. 

He said for mutual benefits, all concerned parties must agree on the incentives for coaching students.

Giving vote of thanks, the PTA chairperson Titus Matthys stressed the importance of parents’ participation in their children’s education and added teachers could not be blamed for poor results while parents drag their feet to take part in their children’s future. Ends