De Beers's computer workstation donation has been hailed as an important milestone in educating citizens.

Speaking during a handing over ceremony at Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology (OCAAT), Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Unity Dow said the partnership between Botswana and De Beers had brought tremendous change to the once poor country.

She said the proceeds from the sales of diamonds had given Botswana a leeway to development and many Batswana benefited immensely in education training and other health and economic sectors.

Dr Dow further said Botswana government was determined to make sure that Batswana students were trained not only in academics but also vocational training so that the necessary skills were acquired.

She said OCAAT would benefit from the donation as students are allowed to study using 3DM, adding this was a step towards skills acquisition which would soon allow them to design diamonds.

Dr Dow added that students who study the Jewellery Design and Manufacturing course are unique as they have a special skill.

She encouraged them to use this world class technology to better themselves and be productive, adding that they should compete with the best and be the best.

The assistant minister said this was the way to go in education because OCAAT would produce market ready students to take the world by storm.

Handing over the computer workstation, De Beers Beneficiation director, Mr Kevin Goodrem said the equipment would play a major role in creating designs for the Shining Light Awards (SLA) competition.

He said the SLA started in South Africa in 1996 and in Botswana and Namibia in 2008/2009 where they were conceived as a design competition with a vision to show the world the wealth of design talent in Southern Africa, which the creative artistry could showcase using the diamond.

Mr Goodrem said the computer workstation comprises of a Dell precision 8GB workstation and a monitor worth P19300, rhino software which makes designs in 3D worth P11200 and a P30 000 full colour printer which will print the design in 3D and full colour .

He said the assistance to the college was in line with one of the De Beers' values of 'Show We Care' adding that nothing beats the spirit of giving.

In his welcoming remarks, Kgatleng education regional director Sir Wonder Masebola said the state of the art facility gives students an opportunity to acquire useful skills but unfortunately some programmes have not yet commenced.

He said the utilisation of the facility was still very low but they were making partnerships with other universities to provide manpower and expertise.

Mr Masebola said they faced a challenge of retaining lecturers with great expertise as most of them leave for greener pastures.

He said this has affected the smooth running of the college but he remained optimistic that the situation would stabilise.

The regional director said since the launch of jewellery design and manufacturing course, a symbiotic relationship was highlighted and a new dawn of partnership was made.

Mr Masebola said the skills acquired by students in the college through the equipment would produce the best products and asked that the gift be put to good use.