18 May 2016

The full and active participation of parents has been described as central to efforts aimed at helping solve some of the challenges besieging Botswana’s education system.

This was said by the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) Dr Theophilus Mooko on Tuesday during an event held to take the ministry services to the people.

Dr Mooko said some of the problems that educational institutions, in particular, public schools were grappling with such as poor academic results, drug and substance abuse, delinquency as well as incidences of pregnancy among school-going girls could not be a major concern if parents were committed to playing their role in helping shape the lives of students.

He lamented the abdication of responsibility by most parents of children attending public schools, observing that it impacted negatively on the efforts to mould children into well-rounded citizens. 

Imploring parents to realise that education did not begin at school, the PS called on parents of children attending public schools to emulate their counterparts whose children go to privately-owned schools.

On a positive note, Dr Mooko commended the pioneers of Botswana’s education system for the role they had played in shaping the country’s future despite the unfavourable conditions that prevailed at the time.

He observed that though Botswana was faced with challenges such as financial limitations at independence, the unwavering commitment as well as the passion and drive to excel by the workforce ensured that major inroads were made in the endeavour to develop the education system.

Speaking at the same event Sowa Township Council councilor Mr Damien Thapa underscored the need for teaching to be treated as a unique profession.

Pointing out that teaching was by nature an around-the-clock job that should not be treated as other professions that make up the public service, Cllr Thapa, who for years worked in the education system, called on government and workers’ unions to ensure that their conflicts did not spill over into the classroom

“Unionism did not start today; back then we fought our battles in board-rooms,” he said.

Similarly, Mr Thapa criticised parents who did not take an active interest in the education of their children.

Earlier when highlighting the objectives of the event, the North East region director-regional operations, Mr Galesengwe Mohube said the activities of the day were meant to provide a platform for the ministry to showcase its services to the public.

“We are here to market our programmes and services, with the view to sensitise the public as to what they should expect from us,” he noted; adding that though people know the ministry’s mandate as being to teach, its growth over the years in terms of the services provided, had compelled them to hold such events to keep the nation abreast with developments pertaining to the ministry’s operations. ENDS