01 Mar 2020

The Minister of Basic Education has requested Parliament to approve over P9 billion for the 2020/2021 financial year.

Presenting the budget proposals Thursday, Mr Fidelis Molao indicated that bulk of the amount, which was about 93 per cent, would cover the ministry’s recurrent budget while seven per cent would fund the development budget.

Mr Molao noted that the largest proportion of the ministry’s recurrent budget would be allocated to personnel emoluments at over P6.9 billion

He added that over P244 million would fund Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) while the remaining amount of over P1.8 billion would cover other operational costs.

The ministry headquarters, he said required over P1 billion that would go to various departments.

Under the development budget, Mr Molao indicated that the P724m requested would be channeled to implementation of development of various projects in the ministry.

He said P46.5 million would be used for completion of procurement of computer equipment for junior secondary schools and expansion of Local Area Network for 100 secondary schools as well as Education Management Information System (EMIS).

He said the project would ensure that all schools were equipped with the latest technology and Internet to enhance teaching and learning outcomes.

He further indicated that the ministry was in the process of procuring an EMIS, which he said would assist in producing the requisite school administration and learner management information.

The system, he said, would also provide pertinent analysis and reports to management and stakeholders at both national and regional levels.

In addition, Mr Molao requested P10 million to continue the roll out of psychometric tests project.

He explained that the initiative was in line with the Education and Training Strategic Sector Plan (ETSSP), which stressed the importance of streaming learners according to their abilities, capabilities and pathways.

Currently, he said there was no policy guiding service provision to special needs learners, therefore requested for P2 million for development of a Special Education Policy.

Mr Molao said there was need to develop a more focused policy to fulfill educational needs for learners with disabilities.

In response to an agenda to transform the country from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-driven one, Mr Molao highlighted that the ministry, through the ETSSP 201-2020, was implementing critical reform programmes aimed at enhancing access, equity, quality and relevance of the education system in line with local and global demands.

Mr Molao indicated that fundamental to such reforms was the introduction of multiple pathways to senior secondary level for learners to pursue subjects of their interest, potential and capability.

Of the 38 subjects to be offered at senior secondary level, Mr Molao said 36 were in their final stage of completion and were being aligned to Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA) and BEC.

He emphasised the need to construct new facilities within schools to make provision for vocational subjects as required by the multiple pathways model.

In efforts to familiarise children with learning, Mr Molao stated that 30 additional primary schools would start to offer pre-primary education.

He said early childhood education had been rolled out to 629 out of 755 schools, translating to 83 per cent programme uptake.

Furthermore, he said there had been an improvement in performance at PSLE and BGCSE over the past three years, therefore he urged Members of Parliament to acknowledge efforts made by the ministry.

In addition, Mr Molao noted that the ministry continued to support co-curricular activities through to international competitions level alongside the core business of providing quality education.

Mr Molao indicated that the ministry was struggling to pay teachers who participated in sport due to funds constraints.

He said currently teachers were owed P32m, highlighting that on average the ministry needed P60m per annum for allowances in sport. ENDS