02 Mar 2017

Parliament has unanimously approved the Ministry of Basic Education’s budget for the 2017/18 financial year, which amounts to P7.646 billion.

The budget, which was presented on March 1 by basic education minister, Dr Unity Dow, comprises P6.801 billion recurrent estimates and P844.9 million of development expenditure.

Dr Dow said the Department of Secondary Education had been allocated P733 585 453 of the development expenditure, while the ministry headquarters will get P108.3 million.

She explained that P37.3 million from the Department of Secondary Education would be spent on completion of the ongoing power upgrading in some schools, which commenced during the 2016/17 financial year.

Dr Dow added that a further P162.4 million would finance the ongoing expansion of four junior secondary schools under the Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP), while a further P80 million has been allocated for completion of newly constructed Maitlamo and Gerald Estate junior secondary schools.

“One hundred and fifteen million Pula is required for the completion of newly established Tsabong and Mahupu unified schools. The project also includes purchase of furniture and equipment for both schools and provision of additional staff houses for Mahupu,” she explained, adding that a further P133.7 million would be spent on completion of ongoing construction of staff houses at 12 junior secondary schools under ESP.

Dr Dow said other projects that would be funded included the transformation of Botswana Examinations Council into a high performance national examinations and assessment authority, which has been allocated P3 million together with completion of staff houses and secondary school maintenance projects under ESP.

Under the recurrent budget, the minister said the Department of Secondary Education had been allocated the largest share of P997.5 million, followed by the ministry headquarters at P864 million.

She outlined that the rest of the funds would be shared by other departments in the ministry including Out of School and Training, Curriculum Development and Evaluation, Teaching Service Management, Pre and Primary Education, Technical Services, Information, Communication Technology and Media Services, Special Support Services, as well as Education Planning and Research.

When presenting the budget estimates, Dr Dow explained that implementation of aspects of the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) had commenced and the ministry had developed a draft National Curriculum Assessment Framework in accordance with principles of the ETSSP.

“This framework will facilitate the restructuring and reform of general education to achieve education priorities as outlined in the Education Sector Strategy. Stakeholder consultations are continuing to input as the framework is developed,” she said.

She added that the Senior Secondary School Curriculum was under review to align it with Outcome-Based Education principles and provide multiple learning pathways more suited for the diversity of learners.

Commenting on the budget, Letlhakeng-Lephepe MP, Mr Liaket Kabley called for setting up of a commission to enquire why students in his constituency consistently perform poorly in examinations.

Mr Kabley also expressed disappointment that a junior secondary schools, which was proposed for construction in Ngware won’t be built anymore. He said the decision not to build it was unfair on the community of Ngware, especially that land was already availed for the project.

Boteti East MP, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe expressed concern about the declining performance of students, adding that the issue should be remedied. He further said shortage of stationery in schools in his constituency was affecting learning.

He asked the ministry of Basic Education to consider hiring temporary teachers on one year contracts to address the issue of shortage of teachers in schools. The legislator also asked for construction of a new primary school in Letlhakane because enrolment was high at existing ones.

Mogoditshane MP, Mr Sedirwa Kgoroba said schools in his constituency needed double storey classroom blocks to cater for swelling population of students.

He pleaded with the ministry to address a situation at Mogoditshane Junior Secondary School, where he said six Form One classes have student ratios of around 60, which is a burden for teachers.

He requested the minister to implement a motion adopted by Parliament in 2015 on ceasing automatic progression of students, explaining that automatic progression was one of the reasons why the standard of education has declined. Kanye South

MP, Mr Abram Kesupile asked why the remediation policy, which was proposed in 2016/17, was not concluded. He also said he was concerned that minister did not specify in the budget, which schools would be maintained. ENDS