The North West Department of Education wishes to congratulate Dr Ditshego Tlhowe the School Principal for Tlhabane West Primary School in Bojanala District and the 2025 national winner in the Excellence in Primary School Leadership category who received the prestigious Fellowship Award from the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA) in Gaborone, Botswana on Tuesday, 05 May 2026.
Dr Tlhowe was nominated for this prestigious award by the Department of Basic Education in recognition of his outstanding record as the founding principal of Tlhabane West Primary School. His transformational leadership, innovative approach, and unwavering commitment to quality education have been instrumental in shaping the school into a centre of academic excellence.
His achievements extend far beyond the school itself. He has served as a provincial pioneer for the Basic Education Employment Initiative, mentored newly appointed School Management Teams, and presented at Department of Basic Education ministerial engagements as well as leadership conferences. In addition, he has participated in international programme exchanges, further contributing to the advancement of educational practices. Among his many accolades, Dr Tlhowe was honoured with the National Teaching Awards for Excellence in Primary School Leadership in 2025, underscoring his significant impact on the education sector.
Dr Ditshego Tlhowe expressed that this achievement is dedicated to his colleagues and the learners of Tlhabane West Primary School.
“I would not have reached these milestone achievements without the support of my colleagues, who continue to stand by me in my work. I am equally grateful for the ongoing cooperation from the parents and learners of Tlhabane West Primary School. My advice to leaders across different schools is to be servants of the people, everything else will follow as a bonus”, highlighted Dr Tlhowe.
The MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi congratulated Dr Tlhowe on his international award.
“On behalf of the entire Department, I would like to congratulate Dr Tlhowe on this prestigious accolade, which further enhances his distinguished profile. The Department is what it is today because of the dedication and efforts of individuals like Dr Tlhowe. Teachers who have the opportunity to work under this exemplary leader are truly privileged to learn from his leadership style. As a Department, we will ensure that Dr Tlhowe is given opportunities to mentor teachers across the province so that his skills and knowledge can benefit a broader educational community,” said MEC Motsumi.
The ceremony formed part of the AFTRA International Conference, where the President of the Republic of Botswana, Advocate Gideon Duma Boko, delivered the keynote address, making the occasion even more significant.
