18 Jun 2019

There is need to improve Botswana’s education system in order to keep pace with the changing world, Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Mr Moiseraele Goya has said. 

Speaking during the Commonwealth Education Policy Framework workshop in Gaborone on June 17, Mr Goya said the meeting came at the most opportune time as it would allow the SADC region to measure progress in its education systems. 

Mr Goya said subsequently, the region would use the framework to strengthen its core education policies and systems as it strove to achieve sustainable development goals on education. 

The framework, he said, ensured that education delivery focused on equity, lifelong learning, workforce planning and relevance to 21^st century skills and jobs. 

He said currently most SADC countries were transforming their education systems, noting that Botswana was in the process of implementing the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (2015 - 2020). 

“I understand Seychelles too is implementing Education Sector - Medium Strategic Plan 2013 - 2017 and beyond; there is also the Education & Training Sector Improvement Programme for Namibia and Lesotho’s Education Sector Plan 2016-2026 to name but a few,” he said. 

Mr Goya said their participation in the workshop was an indication of their respective countries’ commitment to continuous improvement of the education systems, adding that he believed that they would use the framework to strengthen their education policies and systems. 

He commended the Commonwealth Secretariat for finding it fit to develop the framework and sharing it with the SADC region. 

He urged country representatives to engage in collective efforts and network as well as gather the knowledge from experts in order to strengthen their respective education policies and systems. Malawi, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa and Botswana were represented at the three-day workshop. ends