About Maru-a-Pula

The name Maru-a-Pula means
"clouds of rain" or "promises of blessings" in Setswana. 
Rarely are schools so aptly named.

Maru-a-Pula: Launching Africa's Leaders

Gaborone, Botswana

2011

Maru-a-Pula is a world-class school rooted in Botswana. Founded in 1972 to serve as a model of non-racial education in southern Africa, Maru-a-Pula is a coed, independent day & boarding secondary school which has gained a reputation as one of Africa's premier academic institutions.

Noted for its progressive and holistic approach to education, Maru-a-Pula offers rigorous academic preparation for the Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level examinations (Forms 1-6 or U.S. Grades 7-12) preparing students for entry to highly selective universities world-wide. Maru-a-Pula's 50-acre campus is located in the heart of Botswana's capital city, Gaborone.

A Tradition of Service

Maru-a-Pula has a rich tradition of caring for the community, featuring a weekly community service programme required of all students at all levels. Students connect the classroom to the real world - whether they are teaching in a village primary school, feeding destitute families in the township of Old Naledi, working with orphans at the SOS Children's Village in Tlokweng or visiting children at Princess Marina Hospital - often learning more powerful lessons than those provided in classroom settings. 

In addition, as part of its small effort to serve Botswana's needs, Maru-a-Pula is currently offering full scholarships to 28 orphans and vulnerable children. We aim to offer 60 such scholarships by 2014. More on this scholarship program and other programs can be found on the Admissions page. 

Academic Results

Our consistently outstanding results position us as one of Africa's top schools. Maru-a-Pula's 2010 Cambridge IGCSE results were the second best in the school's history. Highlights include:

• MORE THAN HALF (51.5%) of our IGCSE exams earned A*s or As
• 31 students earned at least 8 A*s & As at IGCSE
• 47 students (out of 104 candidates) earned 6 or more A*s & As at IGCSE
• Of the 907 IGCSE exams written in 2008, 513 achieved an A*or A

Our Students

The student population at Maru-a-Pula School is comprised of 632 students, 61% of which are Batswana Students. The MaP student is dynamic, driven, and dedicated. MaP students consistently produce stellar IGSCE and A level results. They receive academic awards such as the Top Acheivers Award given out to Batswana with the highest Form 5 exam results. Our students take part in sporting events and competitions across 20 different sporting codes. Maru-a-Pula students are involved in the arts, acting in plays put on by the drama department or coming up with dances and skits to raise awareness for their latest cause. MaP students are caring,  and compassionate. They participate in service projects where they reach out to the community, both in school and around Gaborone and the country at large, to help those who need it. They help build homes for the less fortunate, they help to tutor primary school children, they bring food and warm clothing to those who are in need and the keep an abandonded animal company. 

Our Teachers

• Experienced professionals from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and North America
• 60 academic staff, 28 holding advanced degrees
• A tradition of relaxed and informal student/teacher relationships
• Teachers commit themselves and their students to academic excellence

 The Arts

• Home of Maitisong, the premier centre for the performing arts in Botswana, attracting thousands to our campus every year
• Site of the highly acclaimed Maitisong Cultural Festival, the nation's largest arts festival
• World-class programmes in the visual and performing arts- drama, music and fine art
• Our marimba band has recorded three CDs and toured Canada, Brazil, Portugal and the USA (tours in 2003, 2008 and 2010).

Sports

• Facilities include all-weather basketball, tennis, netball and volleyball courts, a 25-metre swimming pool, cricket nets and football, rugby and softball pitches
• National champion teams in basketball (Senior Boys for 16 years running) and cricket
• Several national record holders in swimming, including one Olympic swimmer
• Physical education programmes designed both to extend and to challenge the top team player, as well as to engage the willing enthusiast

Student Exchanges & Post-Graduate Opportunities

• A notable and growing provision of fully-funded, year-long overseas scholarships for exemplary Form 5 students at prestigious overseas independent schools: Taft (CT), Hotchkiss (CT), Deerfield (MA), The Hill School (PA), Catlin Gabel (OR), Hawken (OH),  Emma Willard (NY), Menlo (CA), Riverdale (NY), Roxbury Latin (MA) and University School (OH)
• Short-term exchanges with Brooks School (MA),  Horace Mann (NY), Downe House in the UK and Ecole Alsacienne in France.

Notable Alumni in Botswana

Maru-a-Pula prides itself on nurturing regional and world leaders. Many of our alumni attend top universities overseas - most return to invest in the development of the country and the African continent. Here is a sampling of such alumni:

Alice Mogwe
Founder and Executive Director of DITSHWANELO, The Botswana Centre for Human Rights. Member of the the MaP School Council.

Kitso Mokaila
Botswana Government Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism.

Batsho & Oliver Groth
Batsho is Chairperson of Botswana Insurance Holdings Limited Board. Member of the School Council. Oliver is the Managing Director of Botswanacraft Marketing which develops cultural craft artists in Botswana and markets their products such as baskets, pottery, beadwork.

Bukamu Hulela
Coordinator for Undergraduate Student Programmes, Botswana Harvard HIV & AIDS Research & Reference Laboratory

Donald Gaetsaloe
CEO of African Alliance, a leading financial services firm in Botswana, with a strong social responsibility consciousness that extends to the SOS Children's Village and investment in Science and Mathematics development countrywide, in partnership with the Ministry of Education.

Joshua Machao
Community Mobilisation Coordinator for the Ministry of Health's Anti-Retroviral (ARV) programme.

Dr. Themba Moeti
Managing Director of the African Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Partnerships (ACHAP) and former Deputy Permanent Secretary for Support Services in the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Ndwapi Ndwapi
Director of Clinical Services, Ministry of Health
 
Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba
Deputy Secretary General, Commonwealth Secretariat