11 Jun 2017

Maun Basic Education Pitso attendants have been implored to assist the Ministry of Basic Education in attaining enhancement of the education system in the 21st century.

Minister Dr Unity Dow said her ministry’s primary goal was to provide a conducive environment for teaching and learning, as well as accessible, equitable and quality education, which could be achieved only through partnerships.

Speaking at the education pitso recently, Minister Dow said partnerships were crucial in quality-oriented education and recommended that the meeting mapped a framework strategy to strengthen partnerships.

Dr Dow noted that such platforms as the education pitsos were meant to appreciate the private sector, for the ministry to introspect and engage stakeholders on betterment of education.

She noted that many of the successes of the ministry were those attained through private sector schools.

The ministry, she said subscribed to international best practices and the Sustainable Development Goal four of access to pre-primary education.

However, Dr Dow pointed out that her ministry had capacity limitations, especially in the Early Childhood Development as some children were not able to access pre-schools.

Dr Dow noted that although progress had been made through the introduction of reception classes, it had not achieved the desired results, as only 471 of 755 primary schools offered the pre-primary education, which is 38 per cent.

She therefore commended the private sector, which had been engaged in solely providing pre-school from a long time.

Dr Dow said partnerships could be made more effective through evaluations to achieve desired results.

She also noted that change of mindset was key to realising positive results in the education sector.

She however encouraged education officials to move away from the traditional way of implementing practices, but to be results oriented.

Dr Dow said the fear of breaking some rules worked against progress.

The education system, she noted, changed with years, hence the need to change ways.

Dr Dow noted that her ministry was the largest, tasked with equitable, quality and accessible education.

She however appreciated partnerships from the private sector, civil organisations and communities who contributed to education in Botswana.

Dr Dow said the education sector, through its partners had implemented the Education and Training Sector Strategic Planning (ETSSP) with the assistance of the European Union as the main technical sponsor, which had foreseeable results in some schools by far. ENDS