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Botswana government as of 2015 has started opening early childhood education programs in governmental primary schools in order to promote the education of children.<ref name="Glavin"/>
Botswana government as of 2015 has started opening early childhood education programs in governmental primary schools in order to promote the education of children.<ref name="Glavin"/>

=== Secondary Education ===
[[File:Kgari sechele secondary school.jpg|thumb|230x230px|Kgari Sechele Secondary School, a government run secondary school.]]
Secondary education ranges from form 1 up to form 5 (junior secondary: form 1—form 3; senior secondary: form 4—form 5).

Students are usually given more independence, moving to different classrooms for different subjects, and being allowed to choose some of their class subjects (electives). The first three years of secondary education leads to the Junior Certificate, and after two more years of studying students sit for the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Examination.


=== Higher education ===
=== Higher education ===
Line 30: Line 24:


== Localization of the curriculum ==
== Localization of the curriculum ==
After independence, the educational system was focused on academics and had colonial hangovers. "Many of the things taught were not relevant to the African context, thus the school drop-out rates were high".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Glavin|first=Chris|date=2017-01-25|title=Tswanification of the curriculum |url=https://www.k12academics.com/Education%20Worldwide/Education%20in%20Botswana/tswanification-curriculum|access-date=2021-05-20|website=K12 Academics |language=en}}</ref> In 1977 a commission appointed by the government of Botswana published a report on educational reform: 'education for kagisano' (meaning 'education for social harmony').<ref name=":1" />This first National Policy on Education (NPE) of 1977 was a reaction by Botswana leaders to move away from the British colonization model of learning to a more inclusive system when education was for the elite.{{cn|date=June 2022}} As advised in the report, new core subjects were introduced into schools, making the education more relevant for Botswana.<ref name=":1" />
After independence, the educational system was focused on academics and had colonial hangovers. "Many of the things taught were not relevant to the African context, thus the school drop-out rates were high".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|last=Glavin|first=Chris|date=2017-01-25|title=Tswanification of the curriculum |url=https://www.k12academics.com/Education%20Worldwide/Education%20in%20Botswana/tswanification-curriculum|access-date=2021-05-20|website=K12 Academics |language=en}}</ref> In 1977 a commission appointed by the government of Botswana published a report on educational reform: 'education for kagisano' (meaning 'education for social harmony').<ref name=":1" /> As advised in the report, new core subjects were introduced into schools, making the education more relevant for Botswana.<ref name=":1" />


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 12:53, 8 January 2023

Education is provided by public schools and private schools.[1] It is governed by the Ministries of Basic Education. and Tertiary, Research Science and Technology.[2] Among sub-Saharan African countries, Botswana has "one of the highest literacy rates".[3] According to The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency as of 2015, 88.5% of the population age 15 and over can read and write were respectively literate.[3]

The Private schools are "generally free" to determine their own curriculum and staffing policies, with voluntary accreditation available through independent regional accreditation authorities. About 87% of school-age children attend public schools, about 10% attend private schools while roughly 3% are home-schooled.[4]

Education is compulsory over an age range starting between 5 and 8 and ending somewhere between ages 16 and 18. This requirement can be satisfied in public schools, state-certified private schools, or an approved home school program.[4]

Secondary education is neither free nor compulsory.[5][6] In 2002, the gross primary enrollment rate was 103%, and the net primary enrollment rate was 81%.[5] Gross and net enrollment ratios are based on the number of students formally registered in primary school and therefore do not necessarily reflect school attendance.[4] "Recent primary school attendance statistics are not available for Botswana".[5] As of 2001, 86% of children who started primary school were "likely" to reach grade 5.[5] In the education system, girls and boys have equal access to education.[5]

There are publicly and privately administered institutions of higher learning. Post-secondary education, divided into college, as the first tertiary degree, and graduate school, is described in a separate section below.[4]

Botswana made strides in educational development after independence in 1966.[7] With the discovery of diamonds after independence and the increase in government revenue that this brought, there was an increase in educational provision. All students were guaranteed 10 years of basic education, leading to a Junior Certificate qualification. Approximately half of the school population attends a further 2 years of secondary schooling leading to the award of the Botswana General Certificate of Education.[8] After leaving school, students can attend 1 of the 7 technical colleges in the country,[9] or take vocational training courses in teaching or nursing. An influx of tertiary students is expected when construction of the national university, The Botswana International University of Science and Technology, is completed. Other students end up in private tertiary education colleges. A majority of these students are government sponsored. Primary schools "still lack resources", and the teachers are "less well paid" than their secondary school colleagues.[4] In January 2006, Botswana announced the reintroduction of school fees after 2 decades of free state education.[6]

Total government expenditure on education as percentage of GDP in Botswana was reported to be 9.633% in 2009, the highest among Sub-Saharan African countries.[10]

Stages

Preschool

Preschool encompasses non-compulsory classroom-based early-childhood education prior to the age of 5 to 6. Issues of Early Childhood Care and education were incorporated into the Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE) of 1994[11] Some community-based programs, commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, faith communities, and independent childcare providers offer preschool education.[12]

Botswana government as of 2015 has started opening early childhood education programs in governmental primary schools in order to promote the education of children.[12]

Higher education

The University of Botswana, Botho University, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, Ba Isago University, ABM University College,[13] Botswana International University of Science and Technology,[14] Botswana Open University, Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Gaborone University College of Law and professional Studies, and Gaborone Institute Of Professional Studies are the institutions that offer university education. The University of Botswana is the national university which was established in 1982 by an act of parliament.[15]

Localization of the curriculum

After independence, the educational system was focused on academics and had colonial hangovers. "Many of the things taught were not relevant to the African context, thus the school drop-out rates were high".[16] In 1977 a commission appointed by the government of Botswana published a report on educational reform: 'education for kagisano' (meaning 'education for social harmony').[16] As advised in the report, new core subjects were introduced into schools, making the education more relevant for Botswana.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Botswana Education System". www.scholaro.com. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  2. ^ "Ministry of Education". Ministry of Education. Ministry of Education and Skills Development. Archived from the original on 2011-01-17. Retrieved 2015-09-20.
  3. ^ a b "Literacy - the World Factbook".
  4. ^ a b c d e Glavin, Chris (2017-01-25). "Education in Botswana". K12 Academics. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Botswana6). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ a b "Botswana brings back school fees". BBC News. 2006-01-11. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  7. ^ "Education in Botswana". Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality. Archived from the original on 2009-03-22. Retrieved 2009-03-20.
  8. ^ "Registration of Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education School Candidates" (PDF). Botswana Examination Council.
  9. ^ UNESCO-UNEVOC country profile
  10. ^ "Government expenditure on education, total (% of GDP) - Sub-Saharan Africa, Botswana". World Bank. Retrieved 2020-07-19.
  11. ^ "Early Childhood Care and Education Policy: Based on the Framework of the Revised National Policy on Education (Rnpe) Government White Paper No. 2 of 1994" (PDF). African Child Forum. 2001. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  12. ^ a b Glavin, Chris (2017-01-25). "Education stages". K12 Academics. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
  13. ^ "Welcome To ABM University College". ABM University College. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  14. ^ "Botswana International University of Science & Technology". 2020-01-12. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
  15. ^ "University of Botswana Act, 1982" (PDF). Laws of Botswana. 1982. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Glavin, Chris (2017-01-25). "Tswanification of the curriculum". K12 Academics. Retrieved 2021-05-20.
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