19 Mar 2026

Vice President and Minister of Finance Ndaba Gaolathe, has been appointed Champion for Education by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), says a press release from the Office of the President.

The release says his appointment places him among a select group of global leaders committed to expanding access to quality education, particularly in low-income countries.

Mr Gaolathe joins other prominent figures, including Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, as global efforts intensify to mobilise resources and address persistent gaps in education systems worldwide.

The development, according to the release, signals Botswana’s growing role in shaping global education advocacy at a time when millions of children remain out of school or lack basic learning outcomes.

In his new role, the release states that Mr Gaolathe will support GPE’s ‘Multiply Possibility’ campaign, which aims to raise US$5 billion and unlock up to US$10 billion in financing to strengthen education systems in more than 90 countries, potentially reaching nearly 750 million children.

According to the release, the GPE, the world’s largest fund dedicated to improving education in developing nations, brings together governments, donors, international organisations, civil society and private sector partners to strengthen education systems, especially in regions affected by poverty and conflict.

The release notes that Botswana has achieved near-universal access to primary education and strong progression to secondary level, largely due to decades of sustained public investment.

However, recent challenges, the release says have prompted national reflection on education quality and outcomes, with renewed focus on improving learning results, modernising delivery methods and aligning skills development with the demands of a changing global economy.

The release also highlights Mr Gaolathe’s long-standing personal involvement in education, including years of volunteer teaching and mentorship in mathematics, science and life skills, working directly with young people in classrooms and communities. end