08 Jul 2020

The Ministry of Basic Education has employed a total of 1 756 temporary teachers to ensure adherance to COVID-19 protocols.

Permanent Secretary Ms Bridget John informed the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Tuesday that the teachers were hired to cater for school expansion and split classes dictated by COVID-19 protocols.

Ms John said although they were hired post approval of the 2020/21 budget, their engagement was necessary for ensuring COVID-19 protocols were observed.

She said the ministry was currently reconciling information from different schools to check if all regions had completed the process.

The permanent secretary said it was the ministry’s intention to maintain manageable classes even after COVID-19.

On other issues, Ms John said the ministry continued to prepare for implementation of Outcome Based Education and Multiple Pathways in January 2021.

“Learning programmes have been developed and shared with Botswana Qualifications Authority in preparation for accreditation and certification and with Botswana Examinations Council to prepare for assessment,” she said.

 Ms John said two institutions, Moeng College and Maun Senior Secondary School, had been earmarked to pilot multiple pathways education programme which would be rolled out by 2023.

The two schools are scheduled to implement vocational subjects in January 2021.

“As we introduce multiple pathways, we want to cater for learners who are not academically inclined,” she said.

The permanent secretary also informed the committee that  government was still to  decide whether to continue the Primary School Leaving Examination following the decision to focus on robust school based assessment.

Meanwhile, PAC members have asked for re-engineering of the Top Achievers Programme, which they said benefitted mostly private school learners.

They also registered their  displeasure about performance at Junior Certificate. Ends