We are proud to be one of Africa’s leading schools, with 94 students currently studying at the world’s top 100 ranked universities. But we have never held a Speech Day nor created a special ceremony for traditional academic awards.
MaP does not regard itself as an “international school.” Rather, we are a Botswana school with an international enrolment. Two-thirds of our students are citizens, one third are expatriates from more than 30 countries, and our teaching staff is predominantly African. We are nurtured by our many partnerships and exchanges with both local and overseas schools and universities.
At MaP, service is neither optional or occasional. Service is fundamental to our identity as a school whose central purpose is to serve the nation of Botswana. Service is required to all students and teaching staff each week. Many alumni say that their service work has had a pivotal impact on their lives.
We believe that leadership training should be offered to all students, not just the chosen few. We have no prefects, let alone Head Boy or Head Girl. MaP’s older students are given no power over young students, beyond that of setting a good example.
Our students are not required to stand every time an adult enters a room, but they will greet in a friendly fashion and respectfully accommodate an elder’s needs. We encourage our students of all ages to ask “Why?”- and more especially, “Why not?” We value assertiveness, especially in the service of curiosity, and humility where appropriate.
We have dress requirements, but no uniforms. Nor do we value uniformity. Our 6th Formers wear civvies, and in Forms 1-5 we have a “poly-form” featuring white-collared shirts and black trousers. We believe that offering our students the opportunity for individual expression in dress and appearance is a healthy practice. We do not regulate their length, hairstyle or facial hair. We accept that innocent and not-so-innocent mistakes will be made and corrections needed.
At MaP, sport is important, but not pre-eminent. Students are never required to be spectators at a match, let alone wear our “poly-form” while watching. No sport enjoys special status. Our alumni never judge MaP by its sporting results. That said, our current students would rather win and often do.
We are a secular school that embraces all faiths and cultures. We are keen to find nothing alien except intolerance. We treasure the shade of our acacia trees and we hope our banded mongooses continue to flourish. We pamper MaP’s feral cats, but we understand they are not universally popular.
MaP has no school flag, no school motto and no school song. What we do have is a soaring school sound- that of our marimbas. MaP staff, students and alumni share an undeniable spirit of hard work, creativity and joyful interaction. And we all love MaP.