31/07/2026
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With a mission to promote and safeguard of human rights not excluding anyone and leaving no one behind, UNICEF recently donated learning kits to Gothibamang Primary School with an aim to accelerate Early Childhood Development (ECD) and Special Education by building foundational cognitive skills in addition to bridging the educational equity gap for lifelong learning.
By providing tangible resources like age-appropriate blocks, books, puzzles, and art supplies included in the 25 learning kits, the donation will transform passive observation into active, play-based learning across the 4 schools being Takatokwane, Monwane, Salajwe and Gothibamang Primary school. This foundational support from UNICEF will vastly improve school readiness and create long-term academic benefits that ripple across the entire education ecosystem
Dr. Delic Sehunwe, Deputy Council Secretary for Operations, spoke at the event, which was themed 'Every Child Counts: Advancing inclusive ECD and Quality Learning' and was well aligned with the country's commitment to inclusive education as well as UNICEF's focus on equity, child rights, and quality education. With a focus on Sustainable Development Goals 4 (SDG4), Dr. Sehunwe stated that the donation will strengthen the capacity of our district's special education and ECD programs, making a difference in the district's inclusive education while also strengthening our partnership with UNICEF, which she stated has always supported our district.
As the session progressed, Samuel Phiri, a deputy UNICEF representative, praised Letlhakeng District Council for prioritising ECD and basing its approach on the national Mpepu program, which has similar views to UNICEF. Phiri acknowledged that despite the district's severe socioeconomic problems, restricted access to education, and lack of resources, the council actively leads multi-sectoral partnerships to support children's holistic development.
From efforts made by Letlhakeng District Council on ECD, Phiri further urged the district through its campaigns and activities that champions ECD siting that they deserve recognition, documentation and replication for its discovery on what works for children to the whole country.
Phiri noted that investing in ECD is smart economics and that it is an investment in human capital, economic growth, and national development. He stated that the district's use of play groups to provide services to the rural population demonstrated a commitment to inclusive education as the council recognises that a child's geography should not dictate their destiny. โA commitment of UNICEF and the government of Botswana is that every child thrives through inclusive education,โ said Phiri.
The Education Chairperson, Tshokodiso Raselepe, expressed his gratitude for the donation, emphasising that it will greatly benefit students, particularly the Special Unit, which has long had the necessary tools to support children with special needs. He urged everyone to educate parents, who are the main stakeholders, about exceptional children. He pleaded, "Let's take care of special children one school at a time." He also urged everyone to make thoughtful choices so that we might succeed in obtaining resources that facilitate assessment for admittance into special classes.
