08 Jul 2014

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development will use findings of a recent study to improve  education.

The study was conducted by Botswana Examination Council and the Department of Educational Planning and Research Services. Speaking at a dissemination conference of the research findings in Gaborone on July 8, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Keletso Rakhudu said the findings would help to improve the education system.

Mr Rakhudu said there was a need for more focused teaching and learning of mathematics, science, reading and health related subjects. 

The study has shown that the country is in the lower group of countries that are not doing well in the  subjects. “We attach serious importance to these subjects as they measure the way we perform as a country compared to other countries of the same standing,” said Mr Rakhudu, adding that “the findings come against the backdrop of the unacceptable performance in general education.”

The research conducted include Trends and International Mathematics and Science Studies (TIMSS), Progress in International Reading and Literacy Studies (PIRLS) and the Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Education Quality (SACMEQ). Mr Rakhudu noted that the aim of all the three studies was to inform the government on the quality and relevance of the country’s education system.

He also noted that research played an important role in the decision making process, as it gave the opportunity to make systematic improvements in the education system.

Mr Rakhudu said the reason for disseminating the findings of the three studies was to share with all stakeholders the performance of students and teachers in the learning and teaching of mathematics, science, reading and health knowledge students acquired about HIV and AIDS.

He said lessons learnt from the studies would help the ministry to re-group and strategise on how best the subjects could be taught and whether the teachers offering the subjects were competent to handle them. ENDS