26 Aug 2024

As Botswana forges ahead in its digital education journey, it envisions a future where learning is boundless, empowering every student with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Like the winds that set sails to a windmill, the country’s educational sector is experiencing a profound transformation as it shifts towards online education, a change propelled by the dual forces of technological innovation.

It goes without saying that when the history of digital learning in Botswana is re-written, a chapter should be reserved to capture the transformation of Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL) to Botswana University College.

Such synchronised revolution not only bridged geographical and socio-economic gaps, but also accelerated the seamless integration of digital platforms into the teaching and learning process.

The pivotal BOCODOL transition to BOU is altering not just how education is delivered, which is moving from traditional classroom settings to digital platforms, it also significantly expands the university’s scope and accessibility.

BOU Director - Corporate Relations and Marketing, Mr Bonny Bashe, revealed in an interview that the transformation was the actualisation of the recommendation of the Tertiary Education Policy that a comprehensive national distance education institution be established.

“BOU is a product of The Presidential Directive CAB 37 A of 2011 that paved way to BOCODOL’s transformation into an open university.

Subsequently, the Botswana Open University Bill was presented to Parliament and ultimately passed on the 20th July 2017,” Mr Bashe said.

The transformation to an open university, Mr Bashe said, marked a major milestone in the development of education in the country and a significant step towards realising Botswana’s vision of an educated nation, which also emphasises the elimination of poverty through the provision of knowledge and skills.

“Among other things, the institution can now develop, offer and accredit university level programmes independently without being tied to collaborating partners, unlike in the BOCODOL days where the institution had to partner with other high level learning institution for programme accreditation,” he said. Mr Bashe stated that the university aimed to extend education and training using open and distance learning methods on a national scale.

He said BOU was developed to meet the growing local demand for Open Distance Learning(ODL) tertiary level programmes, with the mandate being to make education accessible to all Batswana, especially for the out of school youth and adults using ODL methodology.

“Thorough the establishment of BOU, government seeks to break down the barriers to personal development by providing flexible learning environments, enabling people to study what is relevant to their needs at a time and place convenient to them,” he said.

Mr Bashe added that the integration of technology into the education sector has transformed BOU’s traditional teaching and learning paradigmmes.

He said: “It’s a shift that promises to democratise education, making it more available and inclusive for students across all backgrounds.”

This shift, he said, has ushered in a new era of digital learning, characterised by online classes, digital resources, and interactive educational tools.

He said the adoption of technology in education at BOU has not only enhanced the quality of education, but also made the university accessible to every corner of the country.

Thus, he indicated that BOU was paving way for a more inclusive and effective learning environment.

While significant progress has been made, especially in urban areas, the same cannot be said in reference to rural areas, which still requires targeted efforts to bridge the digital divide as Botswana’s education system grapples with challenges such as limited resources and barriers to remote learning.

He added: “The government’s supportive policies, coupled with the digitalisation drive can ensure that the benefits of digital education reaches every leaner across the country.

By addressing challenges related to connectivity, affordability and teacher training, Botswana can create a robust educational ecosystem that empowers young minds to thrive in the digital age.”

As developments in educational technology continue to advance, Mr Bashe reaffirmed BOU’s commitment to further deepen its contribution towards the country’s aspiration of a knowledge based economy.

BOU has its headquarters in Gaborone, five campuses in Gaborone, Francistown, Palapye, Maun and Kang. Each campus serves as an administrative support centre and provides learner support through the learning centres strategically located across the country. ENDS