20 Jul 2018

Kgosi Mosadi Seboko of Balete on Tuesday presented a motion in the Ntlo ya Dikgosi requesting for the introduction of Botho and Kagiso principles as core curriculum elements in primary and secondary schools.

Presenting the motion, Kgosi Mosadi argued that inclusion of the two concepts in the curriculum would help nurture the next generation, stressing that their omission had led to ill manners and social delinquencies.

She indicated that children learnt Botho and Kagiso from the internet, unlike the older generation in whom the principles were inculcated by parents.

 She said today’s parents had no idea of how to impart such values that build and nurture a child and with the advent of social media, children find themselves learning these elements through technology, which often gets them into trouble.

Kgosi Mosadi said today’s children were lost and needed as much guidance as they could get, both from family and at school.

Backing up the motion, Kgosi Johane Rakumako of Tswapong region noted that the principles help in the personal development of the child as well as a value based society.

He said if introduced in schools as core curriculum, they would help life skills development of the children and enable them to understand life, family, societal goals, moral values and social responsibilities as well as to develop positive thinking.

Specially Elected member Kgosi Kebonyetsela Fish applauded the motion, indicating that these two principles were amongst what differentiated Botswana from other nations.

Kgosi Fish therefore noted that it was important that these were introduced from the early stage of education at nursery schools and reinforce them with grades.

Although he backed the motion, he emphasised that the foundation to mould the children into  acceptable members of the society, started at home.

He said parents, leaders and  teachers should take responsibility of how they conducted themselves and be good role models for children.

Contributing to the debate of the motion, Bobirwa region’s Kgosi Ezekiel Joel said today’s parents were raising fragile children in the face of social media and technology.

He said the internet was vast with free information, some of which clashed with the traditional way of raising children, lamenting that most of the time, children chose the internet over parents’ teachings.

Sharing the same sentiments was Kgosi Rebecca Banika of Chobe region who indicated that today’s children are a lost and confused lot as a result of social media and internet.

Kgosi James Khumanego of Ngwaketse West said the introduction of Botho and Kagiso would help curb issues of early pregnancies among students, and also restore the nation’s peace and stability. Maun region Kgosi Heindrick Ramokwena appealed to the traditional leadership to instill discipline and guide children as tradition required, in order to have better  future leaders.

Responding to the debates on behalf of Minister of Basic Education, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Kgotla Autlwetse noted that the ministry was already providing a curriculum which was premised on national values of Botho and Kagiso.

He said the concepts were inculcated in the daily lives of children through school culture and various interventions such as Guidance and Counselling and Pastoral Policy.

He said they were infused in subjects such as Moral Education, Social Studies, History, Development Studies and Religious Education. Mr Autlwetse also noted that co-curricular activities, including ball sports and athletics, also promoted botho and kagiso as they supported effective teams.

In addition, Mr Autlwetse said the family, community and local leadership remained the most critical players in the social orientation of the child and this should be reinforced in schools.

He however said the ministry would continue to find ways of strengthening aspects of Botho and Kagiso when reviewing the curriculum for primary and secondary schools. ENDS