10 Jun 2019

Government acknowledges the need for improvements to be effected within the education sector, hence the commitment to fully implement the Education and Training Strategy Sector Plan (ETSSP).

Giving a keynote address during the national Teachers’ Day celebrations on June 7, Vice President, Mr Slumber Tsogwane sad the full implementation of the ETSSP would, in addition to changing the face of the education sector, have many other great dividends that would be beneficial to the nation in many ways.

Mr Tsogwane said among the milestones that were expected to be attained through the strategy was the ability to strike a balance between academic pursuit and technical and vocational education.

This, he noted would help undo perceptions that the latter was inferior and less prestigious.

Further, he said the ETSSP would ensure an overhaul of the national curricula and provide for the introduction of outcome-based syllabi as well as competency-based assessments.

The vice president noted in addition that teachers remained among key stakeholders whose contribution was central to efforts to realise the ideals of the strategy.

He said teachers in particular needed to understand that the realisation of the objectives of the ETSSP was dependent on them being transformational agents.

He said teachers thus needed to change and adapt to emerging needs, adding that their competencies needed to be brought to speed so as to enhance their capability to deliver the reformative agenda espoused in the strategy.

Raising another issue, Mr Tsogwane described the establishment of the Botswana Teaching Council as a welcome development that would serve to elevate the teaching profession and bring it to par with international teaching standards.

He said the much-awaited council was a critical step in the transformation of teaching and learning in Botswana.

He expressed optimism that the council and the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) would improve the standards of education as well as the professional and ethical conduct of teachers.

On some of the positives that had since been realised in the education sector, Mr Tsogwane appreciated the strides that had so far been made in the provision of access to early childhood education.

“Currently 589 of our primary schools offer the year-long reception classes, with an enrolment of 25 272 learners,” he pointed out.

Moreover, Mr Tsogwane implored teachers to up their game, saying with government continuing to invest heavily in education, the nation expected a return on the investment, and  the teacher was at the centre of efforts to unlock the return by ensuring that the learner was assisted and facilitated as best as possible.

In addition, Mr Tsogwane  said teachers were central to efforts to propel the country towards attaining a high income status since they had the capability to impart critical knowledge, promote innovation and creativity amongst learners, who would in turn contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.

Giving an overview of the education sector in Botswana, the Minister of Basic Education Mr Bagalatia Arone said it was heart-warming that an improvement was registered in all national examinations from primary to senior secondary levels in the past year.

This, he said was a sign that the ministry would achieve its mandate of delivering quality education to the nation.

Mr Arone assured the nation that the ministry was also committed to addressing the challenges besieging the education sector, adding that issues of teachers’ welfare were also among the ministry’s top priorities.

Botswana Primary Teachers Association (BOPRITA) Mr Kebofilwe Keotswele observed that there was need for concerted efforts to resolve the challenges bedevilling the sector.

Mr Keotswele said it was unfair for teachers to be expected to deliver in the midst of the challenges they were facing, among which he cited lack of relevant resources.

The union leader also raised concern about the sour relations between teachers and the Botswana Examinations Council.

 

He thus appealed to authorities to intervene and address the stalemate between the two parties. ENDS