22 Oct 2025

Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Ms Nono Kgafela-Mokoka has unveiled project Bula Buka, a transformative government initiative aimed at empowering out-of-school youth through education, skills training, and character development.

The project seeks to absorb young people who did not complete Junior Certificate (JC) or Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) back to school and give them a second chance to learn and rebuild their future.

The initiative was unveiled recently at Mmathubudukwane with the official national launch also scheduled to take place in the same village on a date yet to be announced. The programme is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, the Botswana Open University (BOU) College of Open Schooling and the Youth Empowerment Education Trust (YEET).

Minister Kgafela-Mokoka said the project was developed in response to the growing concern over the number of young people who left school prematurely and struggled to reintegrate into the education system or find employment. She revealed that about 40 per cent of learners who sat for JC examinations did not proceed to senior secondary school, while only 25 per cent of BGCSE completers advanced to tertiary institutions.

“The main objective of project Bula Buka is to get our out-of-school youth off the streets and back into learning. We are particularly focusing on those who failed their Junior Certificate because they are still very young and have limited employment opportunities. This project offers them a chance to learn, develop skills and prepare for a productive future,” she stated.

The minister said the programme was designed in such a way that it would be flexible to accommodate students’ interests and abilities.

Learners will have the freedom to choose the subjects or skills areas they are passionate about instead of being compelled to take courses they are not interested in. Ms Kgafela-Mokoka stated that inclusivity and dignity would be central to the project’s design.

“These learners will not be treated differently from others. They will wear full school uniforms to avoid stigma and they will participate in sports activities once school sports resume in January next year,” she said.

Minister Mokoka further stated that the project would initially target out-of-school youth who completed school from 2019 onwards as a starting point for the pilot phase. With resources permitting, she said more young people would be absorbed in subsequent phases.

“We have to start somewhere and with the support of our partners and sponsors we will be able to expand the programme to reach more beneficiaries,” she added.

The minister said that the first phase of project Bula Buka was expected to begin in January 2026, focusing primarily on former Form Three students. Later phases would include Form Five school leavers as the programme scales up and additional funding becomes available.

During the unveiling, Kgosi William Balebetse of Mmathubudukwane praised the government for introducing the initiative describing it as a timely intervention that addressed both youth unemployment and social challenges. He however, urged the ministry to review the national curriculum to make it more responsive to learners’ interests and aspirations.

“Many students lose interest because they are forced into subjects that do not appeal to them. Revising the curriculum to give learners more choice will motivate them to stay in school,” he said.

Community members also commended Minister Kgafela-Mokoka for the initiative saying it would help rebuild young people’s character and take them off the streets. They called on the ministry to ensure that children living with disabilities were also catered for in the programme.

Responding to the feedback, Minister Kgafela-Mokoka assured residents that her ministry was already reviewing the curriculum in consultation with various stakeholders to ensure that it aligned with learners’ diverse needs and the country’s labour market demands.

“We are already working on some of the issues you have raised. The curriculum review is ongoing and is guided by our commitment to inclusivity and quality education for all,” she said.

The minister emphasised that project Bula Buka formed part of the government’s broader effort to fight poverty, reduce youth idleness and promote social inclusion in line with Botswana’s Vision 2036. She said the project would not only bridge educational gaps but also empower young people to live productive and meaningful lives.

“We want to minimise dependency on government relief programmes and empower the youth to run their own lives. BOPA