This was revealed by Minister of Basic Education Mr Fidelis Molao in an interview in Gaborone yesterday.

He said the calender was now 199 days instead of the usual 180 to ensure sufficient times and manage any challenges that pupils might have in gaining necessary knowledge as per the syllabus.

The adjustment follows setbacks experienced in moderating results emanating from COVID-19 cases which set the release date for Junior Certificate Examinations results about 10 days behind.

It caused a delay in publishing the results and subsequently led to Form Four learners opening schools later than expected, he said.

The minister said the setbacks affected Botswana Examinations Council standardisation teams.

Mr Molao also said that another consideration in deciding March 14 as Form Four opening dates was to manage the numbers in schools and mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Furthermore the minister also said adjustments would be made as and when necessary to ensure that schools were not affected in their dispensation of knowledge to learners. ENDS