18 Oct 2017

Minister of Basic Education, Dr Unity Dow has urged parents to share children responsibilities as it is crucial in developing responsible future leaders.

Speaking at Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) of 2015, Dr Dow noted that half of junior school students were being raised by single mothers, noting that the absenteeism of a father figure in a child’s life had a major influence on a child’s achievements especially in the field of education.

TIMSS is aimed at assessing students’ performance in Mathematics and Science subject and also revealed that local students performed lower than their age mates in other countries.

Dr Dow said both parents played an irreplaceable role in the lives of their children and it was vital for each parent to take responsibilities in their children.

“25 per cent of children are left in the care of maids while mothers are out in towns fending for their families in the absence of fathers,” she said.

Rejection, she said felt by children without fathers resulted in a lot of emotional and mental harm.

She pointed out that junior students in Botswana were failing Mathematics and Science as compared to their age mates across the world.

She said for all the challenges faced by the nation, first all fathers must claim their responsibilities.

Dr Dow said parents should stop blaming teachers for their children’s failures adding that education had been and would always be a partnership between teachers, parents and students.

She emphasised that whatever was done should be in the best interest of the child.

Dr Dow said TIMSS aimed at identifying areas of strength and improvement in the education system to attain desired outcomes.

Giving an overview of TIMSS 2015 cycle Botswana Examinations Council (BEC), executive secretary, Professor Brian Mokopakgosi mentioned that Botswana has been partaking in TIMSS for the past 16 years.

Professor Mokopakgosi noted that BEC had been challenged by lack of enough resources to continue carrying on the TIMSS study.

He said the study was directed at assessing the level of learning in Mathematics and Science as well as identification of factors impacting teaching and learning. ENDS