The History of MaP souvenir book
Maru-a-Pula is still a young school. In 1972, the President of Botswana, Sir Seretse Khama, actively encouraged the creation of a nonracial school. Deane Yates, previously Headmaster of St. John’s College in Johannesburg, R.S.A., was the founding Headmaster, and worked with the gracious gift of 20 hectares from the government of Botswana to establish Maru-a-Pula, then in the bush on the outskirts of town. One of the first members of Yates’s staff was David Matthews, who succeeded him in 1981. The third Principal, Malcolm McKenzie, who took over in 1991, was a Rhodes Scholar from Cape Town, R.S.A.
Unlike many international schools, MaP deliberately enrols a high percentage of local citizens: currently, 68% are Batswana. Maru-a-Pula has a School Council, which is ultimately responsible for the general policy and financial management of the School. The Principal, who is a member of the Council, directs the School on a day-to-day basis.
Past and Present Principals of MaP
• Deane Yates (Founding – 1980)
• David Matthews (1981 – 1990)
• Malcolm McKenzie (1990 – 1999)
• Neil Smooker (1999 – 2000)
• Garth Grierson (2001 – 2003)
• Alan Wilson (Acting, 2003 – 2004)
• Andrew Taylor (2004 – 2020)
• Labbeaus Peloewetse (Acting, 2020)
• Nicholas Evans (2021 – Present)