19 Feb 2026

At the heart of the country’s  transformation is a bold idea aiming at  building  Botswana’s economic future through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

For decades mineral wealth delivered growth, stability and social investment.

But as global demand weakens and revenues decline, the shine of dependency has dimmed. The strain on public finances and social protection programmes has made one reality unmistakable, diversification is no longer optional.

Now, government is betting on TVET to power a new chapter.

“We must elevate TVET to its rightful place as a driver of economic diversification, industrialisation and national self-reliance,” Minister of Higher Education, Prince Maele, declared at a recent leadership retreat, signalling a decisive shift in education and economic policy.

He said that for years, vocational education often stood in the shadow of traditional academic pathways.

But as youth unemployment rises and industries demand practical, adaptable skills, attitudes are changing.

Government, he explained, has expanded sponsorship and financial support schemes for TVET learners, recognising that artisans, technicians and technologists are essential to building a resilient economy.

“The aim is not simply to train job seekers, but to cultivate job creators, young entrepreneurs capable of launching enterprises in manufacturing, renewable energy, digital services, tourism and construction.”

A comprehensive national TVET policy, now in its final stages, is expected to provide the blueprint. It will define governance structures, improve coordination, strengthen quality assurance and align training programmes more closely with industry needs.

Recent national platforms, including the State of the Nation Address and the 2025 Budget Speech, have reinforced the message: TVET is no longer a secondary option , it is a strategic priority.

Mr Maele said the urgency behind the reforms reflected broader pressures reshaping Botswana’s development path. The Fourth Industrial Revolution is redefining the global economy through automation, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

“Without deliberate investment in skills, countries risk being left behind,” he warned.

He has been unequivocal about where the focus must lie.

“It is people, not infrastructure, that drive progress,” he said, pointing to Botswana’s Fourth Industrial Revolution strategy built on three pillars: human capital, infrastructure and business innovation.

“If we fail to invest in our people, no amount of technology or infrastructure can secure our nation’s future. The message signals a philosophical shift. Instead of leading with buildings and hardware, the reform agenda places human capital at the centre , equipping citizens to adapt, innovate and compete in a knowledge-driven world,”he said.

Beyond workshops and technical institutes, the transformation extends into laboratories and research hubs.

Mr Maele said Botswana aimed to position itself as a regional digital and innovation centre, focusing research on climate change, renewable energy, natural resources and artificial intelligence.

“Research, development and innovation are the transformative engines capable of unlocking the infinite creative potential within our youth,” he said. Plans are underway to support at least 50 projects under a Research and Innovation Fund.

Three Centres of Excellence , in Digital Skills, Manufacturing and Tourism are also set to be operationalised as anchors for sector-specific growth.

“The ambition is clear: build an ecosystem where ideas can evolve into prototypes, businesses and export-ready solutions,” he said.

For Botswana’s youth, the stakes are high. High unemployment has left many graduates disillusioned, while industries struggle to find workers with the right technical competencies. Bridging this gap is central to the reform agenda.

TVET institutions are expected to play a dual role of absorbing unemployed youth into productive training pathways while supplying industries with urgently needed skills. In doing so, policymakers hope to reduce dependence on volatile commodity markets and foster inclusive growth.

The transition will not be instantaneous. Shifting perceptions, modernising curricula, equipping institutions and ensuring industry partnerships will require sustained political will and funding.

Botswana’s story has long been admired as one of Africa’s development successes. Maele said the next chapter demands reinvention.

Future generations, he added, may look back on this period as the moment the country decisively pivoted from an economy powered by mineral extraction to one energised by technical expertise, innovation and entrepreneurial drive.ENDS