03 Oct 2018

Botswana will host the 16^th Conference for Mathematics, Science and Technology in Africa (COMSTEDA) billed for next month  in the North West District.

  The country is a member of the Strengthening Mathematics and Science Education in Africa (SMASE).

The forum is a Pan-African organisation that brings together African countries to look for interventions to mitigate against low learner achievement in mathematics and science subjects. 

The organisation promotes effective classroom practices for quality education in Africa, and it has 27 member countries including Botswana.

Its  mission is to promote effective classroom practices in primary and secondary mathematics, science and technology education through research, fostering relevant policies, networking collaboration, advocacy and teacher capacity development.

The director of Basic Education, Mr Ndondo Koolese told a full council meeting that preparations were ongoing for the conference. It is expected to bring together multitudes of teachers and experts across Africa of which 47 would be from Botswana.

Minister of Basic Education, Mr Bagalatia Arone is expected to officiate while Professor Jill Adler of the University of Witwatersrand from South Africa would give a keynote address.

The objectives of the conference are to bring teachers together to share ideas on good practices relating to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. It is also to share information on how to address challenges relating to teaching and learning mathematics, science and technology as well as to discuss issues meant to enhance teacher professional growth.

The conference will also give teachers and learners an opportunity to showcase STEM activities.

Mr Koolese revealed that six countries had already registered for the conference, and that they were expecting the number to increase.

He said teacher development, especially at primary and secondary schools, was the key factor in education, adding that Botswana affiliated to the SMASE in an effort to strengthen the teaching and learning of maths and science.

He said emphasis was on technology and engineering as countries had seen them as an engine for economic development. Improving the quality of mathematics and science education, he said, was essential for national development.

 “I believe we all know the importance of science and technology hence we embraced STEM because we want to align to the global education agenda,” he added.

He explained that in areas of maths and science, research was not enough as teachers were not conducting it, but that SMASE emphasised that teachers should conduct research.

He pleaded with the district leadership to support and collaborate with his ministry for the success of the event. 

He also called for sponsorship and requested them to attend the official opening of the conference.

Mr Koolese also said the conference brought benefits for the district and the community. 

Some of the benefits he outlined included cross fertilisation of best practices, exposer to local schools and contribution to the tourism sector and local economy as small businesses and local taxis would make profits.

Teachers, he said, would benefit as they would be developed professionally. 

He also revealed that they had made special arrangement for participants who wanted to go for excursions and appreciate the beauty of the Okavango Delta. ENDS