14 Aug 2022

In an endeavour to transform the education sector through technology, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development has developed a three-phase implementation plan with the first phase expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.

Addressing Parliament on Thursday, Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe said building of infrastructure, capacity building and development of e-content were at an advanced stage.

“Phase one of this plan, which is at an advanced stage of completion, touches the building of infrastructure, platforms and capacity building structures as well as the development and acquisition of e-content to facilitate implementation of e-learning in schools,” he said.

He noted that schools were being connected to high speed Internet through the smartBots village connectivity project. He also said the ministry was working with the smartBots online coordinating office towards improving communication between education stakeholders including learners, teachers, parents and the ministry management at various levels.

Dr Letsholathebe further said laptops were currently being delivered to senior secondary schools to be used by learners and teachers at the beginning of next term. “Every teacher and every learner in every senior secondary school will be issued with a laptop as of beginning of next term. The devices are distinctively colour-coded Botswana blue and installed with a security tracking system with a remote cut-off mechanism to render them unusable should they fall into the wrong hands,” he stated.

He said even though the devices would store learners’ work, they would still remain government property to be returned to the school when the teachers and pupils depart. 

Consequently, he called on teachers and parents to ensure that learners took care of the devices and used them appropriately for a productive teaching and learning experience.

Additionally, the minister noted that preparations for the second phase of the programme, which include availing the devices to junior secondary school pupils and teachers, had already started. He said the third and last phase would see the roll-out of the same gadgets to younger learners in primary schools.

He appealed to all stakeholders to play their role in ensuring that the country achieved its goal of being a knowledge-based economy.

“I appeal to all stakeholders to embrace the move towards digitisation and help our nation to realise our envisioned knowledge-based economy. We are hopeful that if digitisation is utilised properly, we can be able to improve our results, especially the BGCSE and hence will be able to give quality education to all Batswana without leaving anybody behind.” ends