Education and International Contexts

Introduction to Education in Botswana

• Botswana is a neighboring country to South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Zambia, with a population of over 2 million people.
• The country is landlocked, located in Southern Africa, and has a model state with political stability, economic growth, and an upper-middle-class income.

History of Education in Botswana

• During the colonial era in the 19th century, missionaries and chiefs ruled the country.
• Botswana gained independence from Britain in 1966 and is guided by four principles: democracy, self-reliance, unity, and development.
• The country's first educational policy, "Education for Kagisano (Social Harmony)," was introduced in 1977 and guided educational development and administration until 1993.

Education Policy in Botswana

• In 1994, the Minister of Education presented the "Revised National Policy on Education," which provided direction for Botswana's educational system until 2020.
• Education in Botswana is free, but not compulsory, and the Ministry of Education has authority over the educational structure except for the University of Botswana.

Educational Structure in Botswana

• The educational structure mirrors that of the United Kingdom, with universal access to primary and junior secondary school, but a process of academic selectivity reduces entrance to senior secondary school and the university.
• The curriculum incorporates prevocational preparation in junior and senior secondary school.

History of Education in Botswana (continued)

• The 1965 Education Act and Local Government Acts established the provision of primary and secondary school education.
• State budget cuts in 1965 led to the abolition of free education, and schools fees were introduced for secondary school education in 2006.
• This led to a decline in school enrollment, but later, more learners enrolled for secondary and higher education.

Teaching and Assessment in Botswana

• The mode of instruction is English from grade 4, and the dominant teaching strategy is explanations and lecture method.
• The Ministry of Education controls and centralizes the curriculum.
• The Botswana Examinations Council was established in 2002 to guide and facilitate assessments conducted in schools.
• Continuous, diagnostic, and summative assessments are written in schools.

Educational Assessments in Botswana

• Primary leaver school examinations are held at standard 7.
• Junior certificate examinations are held at the end of junior secondary education.
• A learner must pass with grades A, B, and a good C to proceed to higher secondary education.
• The Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education is held at the end of secondary education.

Educational Provisions for Learners With Disabilities in Botswana

• Educating learners with disabilities began about 40 years ago in Botswana.
• Missionaries from the Dutch Reformed Church started the first school for children who were blind or had severe visual impairments in 1969.
• Missionaries from the Lutheran Church opened the first school for children who were deaf or had severe hearing impairments in 1970.