14 Nov 2022

The newly formulated language policy of 2022 will ensure that no child is left behind in education.

It is against such a background that Sheyeyi Thimbukushu, Naro and Nama will be the basic medium of instruction from pre-primary to Standard 2 from January next year.

President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said in the State of the Nation Address he delivered in Parliament on November 14 that schools would further incorporate Afrikaans, Kwedan, Isindebele, tjiHerero/OtjiMbanderu, Shegkalagari, Ikalanga, Cishon, Chiikuhane and sign language  as media of instruction.

He explained that the agreed orthography and dominance in the regions where the languages were spoken were some of the criteria used for their selection.

He further said as part of continued effort to improve learner readiness and positive child development outcomes, government had increased the number of public primary schools offering reception class programme from 629 to 683 out of 727 public schools countrywide this year.

Meanwhile, he said nutrition remained a challenge in child development, as articulated in the 75 letters he received from children after the 2021 World Children’s Day.

“This gave an impetus to the review of the Botswana School Feeding Programme for all schools. 

In the spirit of children’s rights, children are not only to be seen, but must also be heard,” he said.

President Masisi also expressed concern about some parents and guardians who chose not to send children to school, something he said was contrary to the children’s best interests.

“Bagaetsho, no child, under no circumstances, be it yours, relatives, for domestic helpers or farm workers, should ever be denied access to education and be subjected to child labour. 

All of us have an obligation to ensure that children’s rights are safeguarded and promoted,” he said. Ends