Pupils raise money for African visit

Pupils at a north Norfolk primary school took part in a sponsored run and walk to raise money towards a planned visit from a teacher from Botswana.

Teachers Kay Boitshwarelo and Catherine Selema, from Busang Primary School in Tsetsebjwe, in the east of the southern African country, are planning to spend two weeks at Stibbard All Saints Primary School, in April.

One of the teacher's expenses will be funded by an organisation which specialises in international teacher exchanges called Global Gateway and the school is raising the rest of the money itself.

Approximately 150 children, aged from five to 11, took part in last Wednesday's event and raised about �800 which will pay for the majority of one return flight.

The younger pupils completed one mile and the older ones did three miles.

Class teacher Dawn Burden said: 'Busang Primary School became our partner school a couple of years ago and I went out there with a fellow teacher, Anna Welsh, in March. It was a wonderful experience. The children there have nothing but were always happy and spoke and wrote English very well. We have implemented some of there teaching methods here too.

'The pupils here are very excited about the Botswanan teachers coming and it will be a valuable experience for them. We have also set up a pen pal scheme with the school there it's all about widening their cultural awareness.'