24 Mar 2026

The implementation of Technical Education and Vocational Training (TVET) reforms remains key in enhancing the quality of education and ushering in a new dawn with renewed hope to transform the education system.

Debating the Ministry of Higher Education budget proposal for the 2026/2027 financial year on Monday,  Maun West Member of Parliament, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama said attaining a diverse economy depended on the effectiveness of the country’s investments in education, learning and training. He said government should, in its effort to transform the education sector, embark on an ambitious project to broaden the digital and innovation ecosystem.

Such digital transformation, Mr Hikuama said, would encompass curriculum reforms with the aim to enhance the learning process and make education more attractive and appealing to learners. He cautioned that a transformed economy demanded the adjustment of the curriculum to fit the desires of the global economy.

Kgalagadi North MP, Mr Reason Lekutlane, further said Botswana was faced with education inequalities, stating that all too often, children who were born poor or in rural regions faced extreme disadvantage in education. He called for the improvement of education facilities in rural areas. 

“When all children have an equal chance to obtain quality education, learning drives economic growth, fuels innovation and creates jobs. It equips countries and people with the skills they need to escape from poverty and build shared prosperity,” he said. 

He also called for the ministry to consider establishing an institution of higher learning at Ngwatle settlements due to its proximity to Ncojane, citing that the institution would serve Ghanzi South and Kgalagadi North constituencies.

Shoshong MP, Mr Moneedi Bagaisamang, was optimistic of the Umbrella for Democratic Change-led government to turn around the fortunes of the country’s ailing education system, stating that Botswana’s education crisis demanded urgent attention of political leaders and their aid partners. 

Mr Bagaisamang commended government for reviewing and increasing tertiary allowances for TVET students, saying the move was ideal to de-stigmatise the stereotypes aligned with TVET enrollment.

Mogoditshane West MP, Mr Galenawabo Lekau, pleaded for the construction of a brigade in either the Mogoditshane or Mmopane area. He said there was a need to promote vocational training courses that were designed to prepare individuals for a vocation or a specialised occupation and were directly linked with the nation’s productivity and competitiveness.

He noted that Mogoditshane was slowly transforming into an auto-mechanical hub, hence the need to establish an institution that would supply the industry with market-ready graduates. He highlighted the need to promote the importance of blue-collar jobs through launching a TVET revitalisation campaign.

For his part, Kgatleng Central MP, Mr Mpho Morolong, cautioned that vocational training had, since its inception, struggled to gain the recognition it deserves, which had led to a wide gap between the supply and demand for skilled manpower across various industries. 

He also decried the underutilisation of the Kgatleng brigade main campus, saying the campus should rather be availed for the extension of Linchwe Junior Secondary School.

Thamaga/Kumakwane MP, Mr Palelo Motaosane, stated that TVET was crucial in equipping individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s rapidly changing world, as it provided practical hands-on training for the labor market. 

He said one of the key strengths of TVET, even from the previous administration, was its focus on developing and sharpening practical skills in order to produce highly competent individuals. BOPA