04 Jul 2023

There is need to ensure that government policies are result oriented. For that, a blue-print guiding implementation of such policies is needed, and government has to that end engaged a policy expert, President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi said when officially opening the Economic Committee of Cabinet (ECC) yesterday.

He said the policy expert would ensure public policy issues were appropriately approached and implemented. Dr Masisi said the ECC meeting theme Development of a Policy Framework was intended to remind and guide government on how to avoid pitfalls in policy development, which could lead to inconsistencies and poor outcomes in efforts to address identified challenges through policy. 

He explained that the ECC was an expanded meeting of cabinet to which permanent secretaries, senior government officials, heads of parastatals and other experts were invited. 

“The ECC allows for wider consultation beyond the efforts already embarked upon by ministries whose items are being considered,” he said. President Masisi added that the meeting of the ECC would enable the committee to discuss issues on the e-Education Policy Framework, initiated by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. 

He said the rationale for policy framework was to facilitate increased access to programmes and services offered through e-education, with a view to improving quality, equity and affordability of education across Botswana. 

Dr Masisi said the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training Policy, initiated by Ministry of Education and Skills Development and the TVET Policy, as drafted in the documentation were intended to provide a suitable framework for unemployed and under-employed youth, potential employers as well as to provide access to professional qualifications and create more decent jobs. 

He said: “When it comes to the education sector, we have to be mindful of the urgency for government to show results in its efforts to re-engineer the national education system to address past and current challenges.” Additionally, he said, the policies would embrace the opportunity to reset and deliver a knowledge-based and high-income economy. 

President Masisi said the proposal for the administration and implementation of approved government industry and investment support incentives schemes, initiated by Ministry of Trade and Industry had generated proposals suggesting what in their assessment would be a better way of coordinating speedy implementation of incentive packages to facilitate investors. ENDS