05 Dec 2023

The Ministry of Education Skills and Development is concerned with the education outcomes at the basic education level across government schools especially at the secondary level.

The minister Dr Douglas Letsholathebe informed Parliament that the performance of learners was a critical deliverable for the realisation of Botswana’s ambition to be a knowledge-based economy.

However, he mentioned that his ministry had identified key issues that were barriers to excellent performance.

He mentioned that those issues were derived from the National Examination summary reports; standard IV attainments tests, PSLE, JCE and BGCSE along with many independent researches which fed into the development of the education and Trainning Sector Strategic Plan(ETSSP).

The identified issues he said included, discipline of students, parental involvement in education, better resourcing of education and teacher in service continuous professional development.

He informed the house that, various strategies to improve results were being implemented including curriculum reform and shift towards skills development and outcome-based education.

On other issues, he mentioned that, Parents and Teachers Associations (PTA’s) were considered to be functional arms in the schools as they support the social welfare function of the schools and complemented government’s efforts in running of schools.

Dr Letsholathebe confirmed that, the committee was established in accordance with recommendation 118 of the Revised National Policy in Education (RNPE) of 1994.

He therefore said that the ministry had a formal PTA operational structure and has developed National PTA guidelines to guide, govern and regulate them on their roles and responsibilities in schools.

He noted with concern that, despite PTA’s being considered for its effectiveness in supporting schools, there were some schools with non-functional PTA’s due to various reasons.

Dr Letsholathene emphasised that his ministry was doing everything in its power to encourage the affected schools to support and better involve PTA’s to reap improved performances of the schools.

Dr Letsholathebe added that his ministry has embarked on other initiatives to drive improved academic excellence in schools.

He said the initiatives would be supported by the review of the National curricula in collaboration with Botswana Examination Council (BEC) to ensure alignment of the curricula with its assessment at Basic education.

He said amongst the many identified initiatives they would include, strengthening of PTA’s, use of mother tongue in standard 1 and preschool, teachers and school leadership capacity building, strengthening and monitoring and evaluation throughout the functions of the whole ministry, just to mention a few.

Gaborone North legislator, Mr Mpho Baloi had asked minister whether he was aware of the worrying and mediocre education outcomes at basic education level across government schools in Botswana and whether it would not stall Botswana’s ambition to be a knowledge-based economy.

He further asked the minister if there were plans in place to turn around the poor academic performance for the better. Ends