09 Sep 2014

Education in Botswana has to go through transformation if it is to build a global competitive workforce and a knowledge based economy, the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) coordinator, Mr Shadreck Majwabe has said. 

Speaking in an interview, Mr Majwabe said ETSSP was formed against such a background, and that, already gaps in the education system that needed to be addressed had been identified, such as the mismatch between the sector and economic needs. 

The issue of mismatch was a result of the education sector producing graduates who did not possess the necessary skills and training needed in the economy, he said, adding that in coming up with the strategic plan, they worked with the private sector. 

“We are the custodians but what we teach must be influenced by the private sector,” he said.  Mr Majwabe said education had moved from content based to skills based, adding that the former served Botswana well as during independence it needed administrators and teachers, but in the modern economy, technical skills were required. 

He said while the Ministry of Education and Skills Development might be receiving a lion’s share of the national budget, technical education only received five per cent of the total budget which was not enough. 

He said despite the huge amounts of money channeled to his ministry, it was proportional as the population was dominated by youths. 

He however said the budget might be caused by operational inefficiency; hence they were now looking into strategies to come up with prudent management of resources. 

The ETSSP coordinator said they were reviewing education from pre-primary school to tertiary level, adding that they had also been concerned about the declining results. 

He said they had revised the curriculum to be content based, which means they would be looking at what students have achieved during their learning rather than on passing. 

On quality, the ETSSP coordinator said they were now emphasising the teaching of mathematics and science and improvement of facilities. 

He said Junior Certificate students would have two paths to follow; either practical or academic, which means that students with more practical skills and knowledge will go through the vocational route, while others will proceed to senior schools and they will meet at tertiary institutions. 

Mr Majwabe said there had been a concern that only 24 per cent of Standard One pupils had gone through pre-primary school, adding they had introduced beginners’ education in 120 schools. 

That, he said made it difficult for such learners, adding they should start formal school with the basic writing and reading skills. The ETSSP has drafted a strategy that is yet to be presented before Cabinet and Mr Majwabe said all stakeholders, teachers, students, trade unions, private sector, and Ntlo ya Dikgosi, have been consulted. 

On the teachers’ welfare, he said they would introduce a Teaching Code for professional and ethical conduct. 

He said they would also upgrade the teachers’ qualifications adding that a number of teachers who previously held certificates now had Diplomas, but they should be upgraded to Master’s Degrees. 

That is to enable them to undertake research and be able to offer modern teaching methods. 

A high number of lecturers in vocational institutions will also be trained up to Masters and PhD, he said, adding that the ETSSP must provide quality education for a globally competitive workforce. 

It has come up with a five-year plan (2014-15) partially funded by the European Union and the government.It covers pre-primary, primary, secondary and tertiary levels and human resource development. ENDS