09 Jul 2020

The Ministry of Basic Education has made efforts to ensure that schools are effective and efficient during the COVID-19 era.

Briefing Ntlo ya Dikgosi on July 8, acting director of curriculum, development and evaluation in the ministry, Mr Shadreck Majwabe said pupils in their final year were ready to write their final examinations.

Mr Majwabe said those who were to sit for their Primary School Leaving Certificate had already covered their syllabus and were revising for the final examinations.

He added that Form 3 pupils had covered 80 per cent of their syllabus while Form 5’s were at 75 per cent of their syllabus.

Mr Majwabe said pupils would not have short term breaks in order to allow them to finish their school syllabus and be ready for examinations.

He explained that schools had put more effort on teaching critical skills so that children could be competent in life skills while complying with COVID-19 protocols in schools. 

He added  that the focus in schools was on critical pedagogical skills rather than doing the whole syllabus.

Mr Majwabe also noted that there were no agriculture lessons, and that pupils would not be assessed on agricultural projects, adding that all extra-curricular activities had been cancelled to focus on content delivery

He said the whole world was faced with significant challenges in addressing the immediate and long-term effects of the pandemic on education, but that the ministry was committed to finding new and innovative ways to deliver quality education in the midst of COVID-19. 

Regarding the syllabus in schools, Mr Majwabe said they had introduced multiple learning platforms such as e-learning, home-based learning, project method, long distance and peer pressure learning.

Mr Majwabe stated that the learning platforms had been effective, adding that most of the schools had reached a significant percent syllabus completion.

He added that a number of key actions underpinned an adaptive learning approach. 

He mentioned experimenting with new approaches, leveraging deep roots within communities, sharing knowledge and embracing windows of opportunity to ensure school children continued to receive an education, particularly in response to COVID-19.

He also noted that they were continuing to offer radio lessons through BTV as well as e-learning so that children catched up. 

Mr Majwabe also said they had held talks with Botswana Examination Council to move examinations back by two weeks to allow pupils to be ready.

He informed the house that without another lockdown they were confident that schools would have completed the curriculum by the end of the year.

Mr Majwabe also said the ministry was looking into reducing subjects in the school curriculum.

He was responding to Kgosi Alphonse Molefele of Hukuntsi region who decried the many subjects in schools. Kgosi Molefele said it was time schools reduced the number of subjects at schools, adding that there should be less as it was difficult for pupils to excel.

“There should be about four subjects instead of nine” stated Kgosi Molefele. ends