12 Feb 2023

The Botswana Languages Policy in Education has been formulated and is now in place.

The policy document, however, is only applicable in the education sector and should not be taken for a National Languages Policy.

This was said by Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe in response to a parliamentary question on Thursday.

Dr Letsholathebe explained that the Botswana Languages Policy in Education was designed to promote inclusivity and relevance as well as improve the acquisition of skills and competencies by learners at lower education levels.

“The use of local languages in schools commenced on January 10 with the use of 13 languages in 119 schools from the initial target of 170 countywide.

The remaining 51 schools will start as soon as teachers have been trained,” he said.

He added that at least 145 teachers had been capacitated on the use of local languages as a medium of instruction at reception and Standard One levels.

He said the 13 languages introduced in Phase II of the rollout were Afrikaans, Ikalanga, Shegkalagari, Otjiherero/Otjimbanderu, Sheyeyi, ThiMbukushu, SiNdebele, Naro, Chiikuhane, Khwedam, Nama, Chishona and sign language.

He said commencement of the use of local languages throughout Botswana begun in nine of the 10 education regions. “My ministry has not identified a prevalent local language other than Setswana in Kgatleng region,” he said.

He said Phase II of the rollout of the initiative would commence in January next year with an additional 11 languages following documentation of orthographies and preparation of teaching and learning materials.

He said such languages would include Ju|’hoan, Rugciriku, Sebirwa, Shua, Nambya, G|wi, G||ana,!xoo, Chetswapong and Sotho.

The minister was responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Ngami, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama, who had requested for a comprehensive update on the teaching of mother tongue in Botswana and introduction of local languages in the curriculum.

Mr Hikuama had also asked the minister to update Parliament on the progress made so far in preparing for the formulation of both policy and legislation, as well as skills training and capacity-building to facilitate commencement of the use of mother tongue as an integral part of the country’s education system.

He also wanted the minister to further update on the envisaged time frame for commencing use of mother tongue to school children throughout the country. ENDS