CONGRATULATIONS BOITEKANELO
Friday 13 October, was a momentous day for Boitekanelo College (BC) and its students as the class of 2023, made up of 1, 208 scholars, graduated in a memorable, magnificent ceremony.
In what was the Tlokweng-based college’s 9th graduation ceremony since opening its doors back in 2007, the graduating class consisted of: 739 Certificate Programmes, 318 Degrees and 151 Diplomas. They graduated in courses such as: Healthcare Assistance, Dental Surgery Assisting, Healthcare Promotion & Education, Healthcare Services Management and Counselling.
With First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) backing the event as a sponsor, the service was held under the theme, ‘Expanding the Frontier of Excellence in Health Science Education Beyond Borders’. Officiating at the first session, Chief Nursing Officer from Department of Health in South Africa, Dr Nonhlanhla Jabu Makhanya said the graduation marks the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and unwavering commitment to pursuing knowledge. “We are not only acknowledging your academic achievements but also the profound responsibility that comes with your new titles as health practitioners. You are about to embark on a journey that is not merely a career but a lifelong vocation, a calling to serve humanity to alleviate suffering and to make a positive impact on the lives of countless individuals. The healthcare field is without a doubt one of the noble professions. It demands compassion, empathy, resilience and an unwavering commitment to ethics and integrity,” declared
Dr Makhanya, reminding the graduates that healthcare is not only about Science but also the human connection. Wishing the graduates successful careers in their various healthcare fields, Dr Makhanya noted humanity needs their expertise now more than ever before. “Medicine is a collaborative field and your ability to work alongside other healthcare professionals is vital. Always treat your colleagues with respect and value their expertise, for it is through collaboration that we achieve the greatest strides in patient care. As you leave these academic walls and step into the real world of medicine, remember that learning is a lifelong journey. Medicine is constantly evolving and your commitment to continuing education will be critical in staying abreast in your field. Embrace new technologies, stay curious and never stop seeking to improve your knowledge and skills,” she said. Following a brief interval after a successful morning session, it was the turn of students from: Clinical Technology, Occupational Health and Safety, Pharmacy Technology, Nutrition & Dietetics and Emergency Medical Care to graduate. The Guest Speaker, Metropolitan Botswana Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Boitumelo Mogopa, mentioned the ceremony marks the end of one great journey and the dawn of another. “Education and training are far more than just attending classes or going through a given programme. It is also about ensuring that the knowledge gained is used to change the lives of the patients you encounter. The road ahead will not be without challenges. As you move forward from here, you must remember the responsibility that comes with your education. You are entrusted with the well-being of others, and your actions will impact lives. “Your compassion will comfort those in pain, your knowledge will heal the sick, and your dedication will bring hope to the despairing. Let us never forget the profound impact we can have on the lives of our patients and their families,” said Mogopa. Expressing similar sentiments, Deputy Provost Corporate Services, Kitso Leburu encouraged the graduates to embrace this important next stage of their life with the same enthusiasm and dedication they gave to their studies. “It can be filled with a lot of uncertainties about what the future holds. But, to you graduates, take this as an opening of endless opportunities to go and apply yourselves and be responsible citizens of the world, saving human lives. These graduates have exercised resilience and pushed themselves to the limit. They have undergone enormous amounts of pressure and transformed into the gems they are as we see them today. Let’s continue supporting them in all possible ways,” said Leburu. To cap off an excellent day, the top-performing students were all honoured with special awards. Leading the way was Valedictorian, Keabetswe Luka, BC’S best overall pupil and the top performer in Health Promotion & Education, for which she received P7, 000 from FNBB. In other courses, which came complete with a P2, 000 payday, Dorcus Ncube was the best in Clinical Technology, Bofelo Motlhagatshane triumphed in Emergency Medical Care while Karabo Maseko was the crème of the crop in Counselling. The quartet of: Mopati Kapane, Gaolatlhe Keikelame, Basetsana Mangadi and Doris Mantswe emerged as best students in