26 Feb 2020

The Ministry of Basic Education has been updating the nation on ongoing efforts to improve education at grassroots level.

Addressing members of the media on February 25, the minister, Mr Fidelis Molao said the ministry was in the process of overhauling the curriculum and syllabus in an effort to align them with government’s transformation agenda.

 He said the ministry was also preparing for the implementation of outcome-based education, as one means of transforming Botswana from a resource-based to a knowledge-based society.

The ministry, he said was working around the clock to attain its mandate centered around providing quality teaching and learning as well as strengthening schools’ management, regional operations, staffing levels and forging partnerships with key stakeholders.

In executing its transformation mandate, Mr Molao said the ministry would be guided by the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (2015-2020).

The plan’s goals  included improving access, quality, inclusion and equity as well as governance in the education system, he explained.

 He said key focus areas in the transformation journey would be utilisation and integration of   Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and developing new and alternative pathways for education as well as improving planning and budgeting.

 The ministry, he said, was also strengthening school leadership management to give heads of department, deputy school heads and their supervisors the necessary skills to effectively and efficiently manage the schools.

Minister Molao revealed that a partnership with the University of Botswana had been agreed upon to deliver the training.

 “The ministry is also in the process of rolling out remediation and enrichment tools for teachers that have been developed in partnership with UNICEF,” he said.

 In addition, Mr Molao said the ministry was revamping in-service and pre-service programmes to give teachers appropriate skills to deliver outcome-based education.

 Minister Molao stated that the ministry was also integrating new technologies for teaching and learning in schools through distributing mobile gadgets and providing Wi-Fi to assist in class engagement and learner performance.

 Meanwhile, he said,  the Department of Curriculum Development and Evaluation  , in conjunction with strategic partners, was working on digitised book content as a way of improving content availability in schools.

 Mr Molao said the ministry was prioritising teachers’ welfare and maintenance of schools to improve working conditions. 

The ministry, he said, continued to procure and build additional staff housing and implement affirmative action for teachers’ progression in remote areas as well as addressing issues of overstaying.

 Minister Molao noted that a high percentage of eligible pupils  was able to access 10 years basic education. 

He revealed that preparations were underway to provide 12-year basic education in conformity with Sustainable Development Goal 4.

Satellite schools were also being introduced at schools where learners travelled long distances to access primary education, he said.

Mr Molao indicated that the ministry would soon introduce learning through mother tongue in schools. ends