19 Oct 2022

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi has pledged to visit schools around the country once a month and offer his teaching services.

Dr Masisi made the announcement at State House  yesterday during the presentation  of 75 letters written by children from different parts of Botswana.

Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe, a science and mathematics teacher,   promised to join the President in the teaching endeavour.

Marking the 75th anniversary of UNICEF, the 75 letters express the children’s visions for the future while others raised concerns about the state of education in Botswana.

Touched by the children’s concerns regarding their learning environment, including dilapidated buildings and non-inclusiveness, Dr Masisi said he would visit various schools once a month to teach.

He promised to abide by the education system rules and plan lessons.

By so doing, the President said, he would also be able to get first-hand information on the children’s concerns.

President Masisi however said government would do better to address such challenges and  implored Minister Letsholathebe to take the necessary action.

He said government would continue ensuring that the education system was inclusive and that no child was left behind.

 “I do not want any child to miss the opportunity to learn just because they are from marginalised communities and that they have dropped out of school due to pregnancy or any other reason,” he said.

The President said government would train teachers on innovative teaching and learning methods as well as the use of technology.

As a Generation Unlimited (GenU) global leader, Dr Masisi said he was tasked with mobilising resources, securing commitments and promoting the organisation’s goals in support of all young people on education, training or employment by 2030.

Working with both GenU and UNICEF, the President expressed commitment to forging partnerships and spurring others towards connecting young people to education, skilling, employment and entrepreneurship.

GenU is the world's first public-private-youth partnership formed by the UN secretary-general in 2018 with the mission of providing skills and connecting the world’s young people to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and social impact.

Anchored in UNICEF, the partnership brings together global organisations and leaders including heads of state, CEOs, UN agency chiefs and civil society champions with young people to co-create and deliver innovative solutions on a global scale.BOPA