BNPC CSI donate to Mantshwabisi and Shadishadi Primary Schools
Botswana National Productivity Centre(BNPC) donated comforters and sheets for Shadishadi and Mantshwabisi Primary Schools as well as chairs for teachers as part of the company’s Corporate Social Investment in an event held at Mantshwabisi Primary School.
Welcoming the donations, Mantshwabisi Primary School Head, Ms. Sethunya Mmusi said though they are striving for improvement, the school with 510 students, has not been performing well with COVID-19 further worsening the situation. She further stated that the gifts came in handy as the Council was struggling to support the school.
BNPC Corporate Social Investment Chairperson, Mr. Oarabile Lesole revealed that the main purpose of the Corporate Social Investment is to align the new BNPC corporate strategy to the national appeal by the country’s leadership amid the COVID-19 crisis.
The Botswana National Productivity Centre, which was established by an Act of Parliament in 1993 to enhance the level of productivity awareness, endeavours to be a responsible corporate citizen dedicated to meeting the highest standards of ethics and professionalism in line with its core values, according to Lesole.
He said their CSI agenda is governed by compliance and proactiveness. “Compliance refers to our company’s commitment to legality and willingness to observe community values and the general code of corporate governance. "BNPC also undertakes to be proactive in helping disadvantaged communities thus contributing to the national agenda, enhancing productivity through implementation of productivity and quality solutions in selected sectoral groups,” he explained.
Furthermore Lesole explained that the current situation of the pandemic, in general has neccesitated that many companies have to be exemplary by adapting their CSI policies and actions to current health, economic and social needs.
“The crisis resulting from the pandemic has caused a change in the way that corporations pursue their economic, social and environmental objectives, giving greater importance to the role they must play in the society. In this new scenario, firms need to adapt their CSI strategies in order to establish a business commitment to society and vulnerable groups, especially those closest to them,” he explained
He added that following in that spirit, the donations are meant to demonstrate BNPC’s corporate social responsibility behaviour that is concerned about stakeholders and their environment of operation.
Last year, at the start of the initiative, BNPC donated to Ngware and Diphuduhudu Primary Schools as they strive to bring a difference and enhance performance of the students. BNPC further provided Smart Work Ethics and Mind Set Change training to the schools.
Lesole further revealed that BNPC is in the the process of concluding an MoU to partner with the Kweneng Regional Education office as part of their contribution to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Botswana Dr Eric Keabetswe Masisi’s reset agenda.
Letlhakeng Sub-District Council Chairperson Honourable Councillor Meshack Tshenyego was grateful for the donations and said they would come in handy as the Council budget had been exhausted by the unplanned expenditure on COVID-19. Tshenyego further urged the schools to take good care of the gifts and appealed to the BNPC to continue assisting the rest of Kweneng district.
Johnson Mosekiemang, a student at Mantshwabisi Primary School was also grateful for the gifts and thanked the school staff for support. “Blessed is the hand that giveth than the one that taketh,” he said.
Shadishadi Primary School Head, Ms Wendy Kokorwe thanked BNPC and promised that they will take care of the gifts. She promised that the results will improve as they look forward to the smart work ethic training promised by BNPC to aid the schools to improve results. Furthermore, she acknowledged her village’s chief for encouragement towards good results. “We don’t want to produce herdboys and maids, but teachers, nurses and doctors,” she said.