27 Jul 2015

Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR) project is said to be progressing well since its inception in February 2013.


The overall objective of the project was to provide Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes relevant to the skills needs of businesses and individuals.

More specifically, the project aimed to enhance TVET system capacity to ensure employability of students from formal TVET programmes in the tourism sector.


Giving opening remarks at the just ended Korean Research Institute of Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET) and Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (DTVET) workshop, the deputy director of DTVET, Ms Mildred Boduwe said the timing of BEAR project came at the right time when there was already consensus that TVET ought to be revitalised.


She said there was need to refocus efforts on TVET to ensure that the youth have employable skills which could grow the economy and Botswana staff has actively participated with TVET experts from Korea and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).


Ms Boduwe stated that with collaboration with the industry the BEAR team has been able to produce three important Diploma programs which are Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management and Travel Management.

Their close collaboration has proved that programs can be produced to meet the needs of the industry.


She said currently 125 students are undertaking BEAR programs at Gaborone Technical College and Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education and in August 2015 with the next intake there will be over 250 students studying BEAR programmes.


Ms Boduwe highlighted that the schedule for development and implementation has been kept and the outputs are on time and punctual which has impressed Korean experts and UNESCO.

This has shown that Botswana has passion and the right attitude to develop quality programs for its youth to meet the industry requirements.


“Infact BEAR has achieved more than its target, it has produced more than the contract signed between KRIVET and UNESCO, for example after 2 and half years the teams are able to review the implementation, “She said.


She highlighted that Botswana must be in a position to share these experiences within the region and beyond.


On his part BEAR Project Coordinator, Mr Raymond Doherty said the achievement of BEAR Project is due to the commitment and expertise of TVET in Botswana and praised the country for not borrowing or copying a system from other countries but transformed what already existed to create a system suitable for Botswana.
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