Education in Botswana is said to be progressing in the right direction, Minister Dr. Letsholathebe has revealed.
Speaking at the 41st session of The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) General Conference in Paris, France earlier today, Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe, the Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology indicated that Botswana is making efforts in improving the state of education in the country.
“Botswana has been able to achieve gender equality in terms of access and participation by both boys and girls in education. Access to basic education has increased to over 90%, but at tertiary education it remains slightly over 25% due to limited space and sponsorship. We are now reviewing the Education Act and developing national education policies and plans to advance e-education, inclusive education, learning pathways, language policy and many more. The expected results of our domesticated UNESCO Programme and Budget for 2020 – 2021 are becoming a reality.” said Minister Letsholathebe.
According to the Minister, during UNESCO 2014 – 2021 Mid – Term Strategy (37 C/4) Botswana developed an Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) which built on Botswana’s performance in the six areas of the Education for All goals and activities related to Millennium Development Goals. The ETSSP, Letsholathebe days, is aligned to Education 2030 Agenda and its main aim is to improve access, quality, inclusion and equity, accountability and governance in the education system.
The Minister further urged UNESCO to capacitate member member states on issues of technology landscape, including putting more emphasis on Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS).
With regards to Botswana, Letsholathebe says the country supports the move towards a standard setting instrument on Open Science and activities that support girls and women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“The STEM festival is held annually, while Research and Innovation Symposium is held every two years in order to build awareness on STEM. Botswana is in the process of establishing the national fund for research whilst the innovation fund has been running for a few years now.” Letsholathebe asserted.
