25 Aug 2021

 Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja has told Parliament that the new senior secondary curriculum will gradually be rolled out to all senior secondary schools, icluding Lotsane in a phased approach.

Answering a parliamentary question on Tuesday , Ms Makwinja said based on availability of requisite resources, a school may offer subjects from both vocational and academic pathways to meet the requirements of the curriculum.

“There are ongoing discussions between my ministry and other education sector ministries including the Ministry of Employment Labour Productivity and Skills Development (MELSD) on the optimal utilisation of facilities for the delivery of education. This, she said would include the possible use of some Brigades and Colleges around the country. 

The possible use of Palapye Development Trust Brigade will therefore be considered,” she said.

She indicated that multiple pathways would enable learners to pursue a pathway in line with their aptitude and interests.

“A learner choosing a vocational pathway would pursue it to the highest level available and would be allowed to exit with an appropriate certificate at any point in line with the levels as defined in the National Credit and Qualifications Framework (NCQF),” she said.

That, she added meant learners who would not have passed at JCE level but done well in one of the vocational subjects at such level, would be allowed to pursue that subject in preparation for their career path possibly in a Brigade or Technical College.

Learners, she said would take subjects motivated by their career interests so that if they later accessed youth empowerment programmes, they would be already grounded and equipped with the requisite skills to succeed.

On the other hand, she indicated that the ministry introduced technical subjects in the curricula at junior and senior secondary level following the Revised National Policy on Education 1994, adding that it included Design and Technology, Art and Design and Agriculture, among others.

She also said in February 2021, the ministry commenced the roll-out of new pre-vocational subjects with the Form Four cohort at Maun Senior Secondary School and Moeng College as part of introducing the multiple pathways programme.

She indicated that Moeng College offered three pre-vocational subjects in Field Crop Production, Animal Production and, Horticulture while Maun SSS offered Hospitality and Tourism Studies.

“The implementation plan for the further rollout of subjects is currently being finalised for approval by cabinet during the current financial year,” she said.

Palapye MP, Mr Onneetse Ramogapi, had asked the minister to state progress on the rollout of technical training within the curriculum and whether there were schools in Palapye being considered for the exercise.

Mr Ramogapi also wanted to know if the ministry would consider using the readily available facilities such as the Palapye Development Trust Brigade where there were no facilities in secondary schools.

He further wanted to know the extent the programme was aligned to the youth empowerment for maximum benefit. ENDS