14 Sep 2017

Statistics have come to be recognised as part of the enabling process for infrastructure development nationally and internationally, says Statistician General, Ms Anna Majelantle.

Speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Statistics Botswana and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Ms Majelantle said the MoU formalised the partnership between the two organisations in ensuring the availability of official tertiary education sector statistics.

Ms Majelantle said statistics were an input in evidence based decision making, development planning, policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation, and that all these processes required quality, comparable and user- friendly statistical information.

She said the demand also called for innovation and the use of information technology to automate data, noting that information has also been increasing over the years and calling for cost sharing initiatives.

“Such demands call for partnerships and concerted efforts to coordinate the provision of statistics, not only from Statistics Botswana, but from other users and producers of statistics, referred to as the national statistical system,” she said.

She noted that the signing of the MoU would solidify collaboration and cooperation between their organisations, and most demonstrate commitment towards the provision of quality official sector statistics.

In addition, she said they recognised that the provision of statistical information was a vital component of their functions and that they understood that cooperation on statistics standards and methods was desirable.

She also said they recognised that cooperation would provide benefits to users through consistent, timely and relevant sector statistics, adding that they would cooperate to share data within statutory limitations and obligations imposed by relevant legislation.

For his part, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Theophilus Mooko said in order to provide effective coordination, the ministry endeavoured to create a conducive legislative environment for research, science, technology and innovation to thrive.

Dr Mooko said the ministry would achieve its mandate through the development of evidence based policies and strategies by ensuring alignment to the same by various RSTI stakeholders by strategically focusing on providing RSTI governance and coordination, building national capacity for RSTI and providing funding for research and innovation.

He noted that his ministry periodically collected data to develop robust indicators to inform evidence-based policy formulation, and that on an annual basis, the ministry collected and collated data on inputs of R&D and innovation activities performed in Botswana.

Dr Mooko said through the MoU, they agreed to share statistical data and information on all variables and indicators required by their institutions, and to provide technical support on the development of research studies and share projects costs. ENDS