Mater Spei College

Last updated

Mater Spei College
Mater Spei College logo.jpg
Location

Information
TypeGovernment-aided mission school
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Established1963
Sister school St. Joseph's College, Kgale
PrincipalMa Smarts
GradesForm 4 (Grade 11), Form 5 (Grade 12)
Gender Co-educational
Nickname Maters, MSC
National ranking2

Mater Spei College is a government-aided Catholic secondary school located in Francistown, Botswana. It educates a mixture of boarding and day scholar students in grades (11-12) or form 4 and form 5.

Contents

Location

Mater Spei College is located in Botswana's second-largest city, Francistown, in northern Botswana. [1] it is now headed by Mr B. Bajiti as the school head of the present Mater Spei

History

Mater Spei College was founded by the Roman Catholic church in 1963. [2] [3] Mater Spei was part of a major development plan by the Roman Catholic church, driven partly by the enthronement of Urban Murphy as the country's first Catholic bishop. [4] It was only the seventh secondary school to be opened in Botswana; the second Catholic secondary school in the country, [5] and one of a number of education developments driven by Christian missions which emerged in the late 1950s. [6]

The school received considerable financial support from the Botswana government, which made significant capital investment in building projects at the school to support the institution's expansion in its early years. As a result the school was able to expand from one stream per year in 1965 to 20 classes in 1975. In 1979 the school expanded to take over the grounds of the adjoining Our Lady of the Desert Primary School. [7]

School and the learning environment

In 2020 Mater Spei had approximately 1,750 students. [8] The school has facilities including double-storey classrooms, a multi-purpose hall and a networked (Internet-connected) library. [9]

In 2018 the school had the second highest academic results in Botswana for the country's BGCE examinations. [10]

Subjects taught

Mater Spei College has twelve subject departments, which includes:

  1. Religious Education
  2. English Language
  3. Mathematics
  4. Science

Optional Subjects

  1. Design and Technology
  2. Art and Craft
  3. Development Studies
  4. Business Studies
  5. Geography
  6. Home Economics
  7. Agriculture
  8. English Literature
  9. History
  10. Setswana language

A 2016 study found that this school was ahead of others in information and communications technology because of equipment and software provided by a local mining company. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

Most schools in Macau are private or subsidized schools. As of the 2023–2024 school year, there were 76 schools in Macau, including eight public schools and 68 private schools. Of the 73 schools that offered formal education, six were not a part of Macau's free education network. As of 2006 many of the schools in Macau are operated by Catholic organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palapye</span> Town in Central District, Botswana

Palapye is a growing town in Botswana, situated about halfway between Francistown and Gaborone. Over the years its position has made it a convenient stopover on one of Southern Africa's principal north–south rail and road routes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Botswana</span> Public university in Botswana

The University of Botswana (UB) was established in 1982, as the first institution of higher education in Botswana. The university currently has three campuses: one in the capital city Gaborone, one in Francistown, and another in Maun. The University of Botswana is divided into six faculties: Business, Education, Engineering, Humanities, Health Sciences, Science and Social Sciences and the Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital. UB is ranked 1201–1500 in the world and 21st in sub-Saharan Africa in the 2024 Times Higher Education World University Ranking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francistown</span> City in North-East District, Botswana

Francistown is the second-largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 103,417 and 147,122 inhabitants for its agglomeration at the 2022 census. It is located in eastern Botswana, about 400 kilometres (250 mi) north-northeast from the capital, Gaborone. Francistown is located at the confluence of the Tati and Ntshe rivers, and near the Shashe River and 90 kilometres (56 mi) from the international border with Zimbabwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Botswana</span>

Education in Botswana is provided by public schools and private schools. Education in Botswana is governed by the Ministries of Basic Education. and Tertiary, Research Science and Technology Among sub-Saharan African countries, Botswana has one of the highest literacy rates. According to The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency as of 2015, 88.5% of the population age 15 and over can read and write in Botswana were respectively literate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North-East District (Botswana)</span> District in Botswana

The North-East District is one of the administrative districts of Botswana. Its capital is Francistown. In 2011, North-East had a population of 60,264 people. The district is predominantly occupied by Kalanga-speaking people, the BaKalanga. The district is administered by a district administration and district council, which are responsible for local administration.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in South Africa</span>

Education in South Africa is governed by two national departments, namely the Department of Basic Education (DBE), which is responsible for primary and secondary schools, and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), which is responsible for tertiary education and vocational training. Prior to 2009, both departments were represented in a single Department of Education. Among sub-Saharan African countries, South Africa has one of the highest literacy rates. According to The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency as of 2019, 95% of the population aged from 15 and over can read and write in South Africa were respectively literate.

Bobonong is a town in the Central District of Botswana 80 km from Selibe Phikwe town. Bobonong has a population of around 19,000. The Babirwa tribe can be found in this town. The Botswana Pink semi-precious stones can be found in Bobonong region. The Babirwa are known for harvesting the mophane worm. The locals refer to the town as Bobcity or formerly Lekgarapeng, which was derived from the stoney landscape of the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tonota</span> Village located in the Central District of Botswana

Tonota is a village located in the Central District of Botswana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Rwanda</span>

Education in Rwanda has undergone considerable changes throughout Rwanda's recent history, and has faced major disruptions due to periods of conflict. Education was divided by gender whereby women and men had a different education relevant to their responsibilities in day-to-day life. Women were mostly taught housekeeping while men were mainly taught how to hunt, raise animals, and fish. This is because Rwanda was a community-based society where every member had a specific contribution to the overall development of the community. Older family members like grandparents usually took on the role of educators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Ghana</span>

Education in Ghana uses a dualistic approach encompassing both formal and informal learning systems. The current formal educational system was introduced during European colonisation. However, learning systems existed prior to that. The University of Moliyili is one of the earliest learning centers in Ghana established in the 1700s. During colonisation, European settlers initially introduced a formal education system addressed to the elites, while education of the average citizen was mainly informal, and based on apprenticeship. Economic activities in pre-colonial Ghana were based on farm produce shared within households and members of each household specialized in providing necessities such as cooking utilities, shelter, clothing, and furniture, and trade with other households was therefore practiced on a very small scale. As such there was no need for employment outside the household that would have otherwise called for disciplines, values, and skills through a formal education system. After colonization, Ghana's economy became a hybrid of subsistence and formal economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christianity in Botswana</span>

More than 70% of the population of Botswana is Christian. Most are members of the Anglican, United Congregational Church of Southern Africa, the Methodist Church of Southern Africa, and African independent churches. Anglicans are part of the Church of the Province of Central Africa. The Roman Catholic Church includes about 5% of the nation's population.

Louis Matshwenyego Fisher was commander of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) from 1998 to 2006. He is a recipient of the Légion d'honneur and a Presidential Order of Honour.

Mathangwane is a village in the Central District of Botswana administered under Tutume Sub-district Council. The village is located at the confluence of the Shashe and Vukwi rivers, 25 kilometres west of the City of Francistown along the A3 highway and almost entirely on the left bank of Shashe River. The population of the village was 5,075 in the 2011 national population and housing census. The village is characterised by many river valleys, mostly tributaries to Shashe River and used for identifying the village community wards (dikgotlana) boundaries.

The Botswana Accountancy College, also known as BAC, is a business school which is headquartered in the city of Gaborone, Botswana. Initially funded and established through a joint venture between the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and Debswana, the college caters for the accountancy and information technology tertiary needs of the country. The Botswana Accountancy College asserts itself as the center of excellence in Southern Africa and beyond. It specializes in areas of accounting, finance, business, management, hospitality, taxation, leisure, and ICT. BAC has two campuses; the main campus is in Gaborone, and the other in Francistown. The Gaborone Campus is located in the Fairgrounds Office Park of south-east Gaborone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Education and Skills Development</span>

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development is a government ministry of Botswana. Its offices are in Gaborone. The Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research Science and Technology exists to provide and build knowledge and innovation through the development and implementation of policy on Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology to transform Botswana in to a knowledge based society through effective stakeholder collaboration

This article examines trends and developments in science and technology in Zimbabwe since 2009.

Science and technology in Tanzania describes developments and trends in higher education, science, technology, innovation policy, and governance in the United Republic of Tanzania since the turn of the century.

Francistown Senior Secondary School is a government institution located in Francistown, the second largest city in Botswana, with a population of about 100,079 and 150,800 inhabitants for its agglomeration at the 2011 census.

References

  1. "Location of Mater Spei College Botswana". local.com. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  2. Swartland, J. R.; Taylor, D. C. (1988). "Community Financing of Schools in Botswana". In Bray, M.; Lillis, K. (eds.). Community Financing of Education: Issues & Policy Implications in Less Developed Countries. Elsevier. pp. 139–153. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-035858-1.50022-8. ISBN   9781483297668.
  3. "Master Spei celebrates 50th anniversary". The Botswana Gazette . 13 September 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  4. Grant, Sandy (1980). "The non-government contribution to development in Botswana, 1962-1980". Botswana Notes and Records. 12: 41–47. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  5. Swartland, J. R.; Taylor, D. C. (1988). "Community Financing of Schools in Botswana". In Bray, M.; Lillis, K. (eds.). Community Financing of Education: Issues & Policy Implications in Less Developed Countries. Elsevier. pp. 139–153. doi:10.1016/B978-0-08-035858-1.50022-8. ISBN   9781483297668.
  6. Damane, Victoria; Molutsi, Patrick (2013). "Crisis of a Rich State: Botswana's Dilemma in Financing Tertiary Education". In Teferra, Damtew (ed.). Funding Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN   978-1137345783.
  7. Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (1979). National Development Plan. Gaborone: Government of Botswana. p. 331.
  8. Mkhutshwa, Lesedi (5 June 2020). "The challenges of double shift at Mater Spei". Mmegi Online . Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  9. "History of Mater Spei College Botswana". MSC INFO. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
  10. Shabani, Thamani (7 April 2019). "Mater Spei College celebrates success". Botswana Daily News. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  11. Nleya, Paul Thabano Tapela (2016). "Transformative Applications of ICT in Education: The Case of Botswana Expansive School Transformation (Best) Project". In Mata, F.; Pont, A. (eds.). ICT for Promoting Human Development and Protecting the Environment (PDF). IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology. Vol. 481. Springer. pp. 68–82. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-44447-5_8. ISBN   978-3-319-44446-8.