12 Jun 2013

Professors and students from Michigan State University visited Makuta Primary School in the Tutume Sub-district on Monday to learn about education in Botswana.

BOTASH Mine engineering manager, Mr Oreeditse Kayawe told the visitors that education at primary level was provided freely and parents only paia school fees at secondary and tertiary level respectively.

 He noted that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development had developed the Adopt-a-School initiative, whereby companies and individuals adopted a school of their choice to support it in different ways.

 He also said government awarded top achievers, adding that the awards were in the form of cash or certificates. “This is a way of motivating all so that they fully develop their potential and are  able to compete globally,” he said.

 Mr Kayawe also noted that excellence was awarded according to achievements in different subjects areas, adding that learners who excelled at senior secondary school level were offered a sponsorship to study abroad.

The Michigan State University donated stationery to Makuta primary and showed appreciation of the Bakalanga cultural heritage. A total of 17 individuals made up the study tour with 14 doctoral students from the university’s college of education. The doctoral students represented diverse areas including teacher education, curriculum, school psychology, educational psychology and educational policy.

The study tour was designed to enhance student’s knowledge of physical and psychological child development, educational philosophy, curriculum, structure and policy in Botswana.  They were interested in understanding some of the challenges and opportunities facing Botswana’s children, youth and families.  ENDS