06 Jul 2016

The implementation of the early childhood programme was designed to be phased in over five years, 2014 to 2018, Parliament has been informed. 

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Fidelis Molao said an initial 115 primary schools started in 2014, while in 2015 the ministry targeted an additional 107 schools of which 106 started. 

Mr Molao further noted that in 2016, they targeted an additional 196 schools of which 161 have started, while to date, 382 primary schools have introduced the early childhood programme against a target of 423. 

“We have not been able to reach targets because of limited classroom space and financial constraints. My government has since taken a decision to accommodate the construction of additional classroom blocks for the programme during the implementation of the backlog eradication programme and supported by the Economic Stimulus Programme,” said Mr Molao. 

Therefore, he said if funds permitted, the anticipation was that the early childhood programme would be fully implemented in all public primary schools over the next three years. 

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa had asked the minister to state the number of public primary schools in Botswana and how many of these primary schools had introduced the early childhood programme. 

The MP had also wanted to know what was delaying the implementation of the programme in other schools and when the programme would be fully functional. ENDS