A vegetable garden to boost Bakolobeng High's nutrition programme
The learners of Bakolobeng High School in Ganalaagte have described the North West MEC for Rural, Environment and Agriculture Development, Manketsi Tlhape's birthday, a celebration in style. MEC spent hours of her special day at the school. This is the same school that borne this profound leader and many others. With a complete 30 years operation the school has moved in strides and continues to offer the best education and produces good matric results.
MEC Tlhape planted and handed over a vegetable garden to the school as par of her celebration. She has committed the department to ensuring that the garden is maintained. MEC said the garden should be able to assist the School's Nutrition Support programme. "With fresh vegetable, our learners would be able to get nutrition they require in order to have energy and be able to concentrate in school. Remember, as a department we have a role of ensuring that there is food security in our province," she said. She further emphasised that the importance with food security is not only about the quantity of food consumed but also about the nutritional quality.
MEC has committed to adopting the school and further said she will liaise with the Department of education in the province in order to ensure that agriculture is one of the subjects taught and prioritised at the Bakolobeng High. MEC Tlhape said as one of the key drivers of the economy, agriculture should be introduced to learners at a young age so that they are able to see how significant it is on daily basis.
She also planted two trees which she emphasised "they mark reconciliation in response to the recent spate of xenophobic attacks across the country".
MEC Tlhape said the event brings a lot of memories and recalled many of her high school days and reflected on how she cherished every moment of it. With much passion MEC reflected on her disadvantaged background and encouraged the learners not to despair as some of them might be in the same situation she found herself in many years ago. She encouraged all to have a vision with an intention to reach it.
The Bakolobeng High School principal, Ms Elizabeth Kurian was ecstatic of MEC's gesture and said she wished all other leaders who have schools in rural areas could go back and show love as MEC Tlhape had done. "We are very happy as a school for the visit and most of the vegetable garden she has given us. We need to see this happening to many other schools like ours." Learners also complemented Ms Kurian's gratitude and said they were looking forward to MEC Tlhape's frequent visits to the school.
Enquiries:
Thandiwe Moripe
Tel: 018 389 5337/8
Cell: 071 862 4270
E-mail: tmoripe@nwpg.gov.za
