14 Nov 2013

Open and Distance Learning (ODL) has grown to contribute significantly to the human capital development in Botswana, says Dr Daniel Tau.

Speaking at the Distance Education Association of Southern Africa (DEASA) stakeholder appreciation breakfast meeting in Gaborone on November 13, Dr Tau who is the executive director of Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL) said certain professions were highly dependent on ODL, such as accountancy.

“Through ODL, they move up to chattered accountants and almost 95 per cent of them did it at home using the mode that we are trying to promote in the country,” he said. He said he was happy that ODL had come to acceptable and formed part of an integral part of education and training strategy for the country.

“It cannot be used now for all disciplines as some are problematic to deliver using ODL, but for the vast majority of disciplines, ODL can be an appropriate mode of education,” he said. Dr Tau further noted that ODL Policy for Botswana was in the offing and will be handed to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) soon.

He said the policy would be in harmony with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) ODL policy and standards. Dr Tau said implementation of the policy would require total commitment especially from providers.

The meeting was convened to thank stakeholders who sponsored the 48TH DEASA international conference that was held in Gaborone in September this year. The conference had attracted ODL practitioners from 13 SADC countries and international audience from Spain, UK and USA. Ends