10 Apr 2017

As the saying goes, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step,” and so it was with the building of Metsimotlhabe Primary School.

One of the pioneers of the project, 86-year-old Ms Rose Aboneng together with some community members took those steps to build Metsimotlhabe Primary School.

Ms Aboneng explains that the village then was known as Potadichibidu under the leadership of Kgosi Papalagae Mmipi and that at the time, residents of Potadichibudu’s sole wish was to have a school in their village.

This was because their children attended school either at Mogoditshane, Kgale or Gabane which was a distance during those times.

Fortunately for them Kgosi Mmipi had established a good relationship with Kgosi Kgari I.

Therefore, when he informed him about their vision, Kgosi Kgari I gave them a plot to build the school because back then, the land was administered by dikgosi.

Ms Aboneng says immediately after Kgosi Kgari I gave them the blessing to start the building project, five women namely; Ms Mosalofe Mokgele, Ms Mmangaka Mmipi, Ms Seepi Mmutle, Ms Manakele Mmipi and herself volunteered to build the first class.

The project commenced in 1960 and the school was named Ipelegeng.

The bricks were moulded out of mud and when the wall was done, Kgosi Mmipi introduced the women to his son-in-law, Ms Aboneng narrated.

It was his son-in-law who advised that the bricks needed to be baked so that the roofing can sit on a strong wall.

So he taught the women how to bake bricks.

Thus from Mondays to Thursdays, the women moulded bricks, and on Fridays men came with firewood and baked them.

The bricks had to be left for baking for the rest of the weekend, then on Mondays they were taken out to cool.

One of the women who volunteered to mould the bricks, Ms Maggie Seleka said their vision was to have educated children in their village hence they volunteered and Kgosi Mmipi’s wife cooked for them freely.

Finally, when the bricks were enough, men helped to finish the wall using cement.

On the other hand, gum pole rafters were brought together with five corrugated iron sheets for roofing.

Yet this was not enough for the classroom, so residents had to contribute five pounds each for more roofing material.

The men then completed the roofing and Kgosi Mmipi donated a door for the classroom signaling the opening of the school to the first batch of pupils.

Ms Bonolo Mmipi became the first teacher at Ipelegeng Primary School.

Having completed her Std VII at Gabane and obtaining grade C, the community negotiated and agreed to pay her on a monthly basis.

Each pupil paid 15 thebe to attend school.

The number of pupils rose dramatically and the community brought the second teacher, Ms Sheila Nkgogo-Monageng. Eventually, Ms Nkgogo-Monageng got married and left the school to be with her in-laws in Serowe.

Eventually, the management of Ipelegeng hired Ms Semakaleng Leburu and Ms Noah Disang who had also passed their Std VII with grade C.

As the school continued to attract more pupils, it could not cater for Std I to four classes. More classes were needed.

By then, the councils were up and running in the country, so they paid school visits from time to time.

The management took the matter with the council. Nevertheless, the council asked residents to look for a plot where they could build a primary school.

Fortunately, Ms Rebolokeng Morwaeng, the wife to the late Kgosi Khukhu Morwaeng of Mogoditshane gave up her plot in Metsimotlhabe to pave way for Metsimotlhabe Primary School.

Ms Aboneng explains that the tender was awarded to a local contractor from Mochudi to construct the school.

The community volunteered to buy bags of cement while the water was taken from Department of Roads and from a local reservoir.

The contractor built two classrooms which meant that pupils who had completed their Std IV at Ipelegeng could further their studies at Metsimotlhabe Primary School and the first teachers were hired.

Still caught up in the self-reliance spirit, the community also built three traditional huts to house those teachers which were later upgraded to modern houses after independence.

But the community realised that pupils who had finished Std VII were idle. 

Ms Aboneng says she pleaded with the then Member of Parliament for Kweneng, the late Mr Leesemane Kgabo to help them get a secondary school using her position as VDC chairperson.

The motion was adopted but four places were bidding to get the school namely Mmopane, Mogoditshane, Kopong and Metsimotlhabe.

Meanwhile, the MP pleaded with the four places to speed their consultations as the tender was already awarded.

“The pre existing requirement was that the village that will provide the plot first will get the school, so my husband gave our field so that Ikageng Community Junior can be built. I was reluctant but my husband convinced me that as a leader I should set an example,” narrated Ms Aboneng.

One of the first graduates from Ipelegeng school is now Botswana ambassador to Zambia, Ms Lydia Marumo.

The first school was closed after independence and the classroom has been turned into a cultural village.

Even though Ms Aboneng regrets dropping out of tshipidi class (Std one), she is however grateful that their spirit of self reliance gave birth to education in Metsimotlhabe. ENDS