Botswana is one of the few African countries with a national, government-led programme on ICTs in education that targets all schools. A Government policy entitled The Revised National Policy on Education highlighted the need for all learners to be given computer skills at all levels of schooling in Botswana. The Revised National Policy on Education released in 2020 recommended the introduction of Computer Science as a subject option in Senior Secondary schools and Computer Awareness for the three years of Junior Secondary School. As a result, a new curriculum for Computer Awareness has been developed and piloted in eleven Junior Secondary schools.

The curriculum aims to equip learners with computer skills that can be applied in all subjects. The department has adopted an ‘infusion strategy’, whereby all teachers and learners are equipped with basic computer skills. The department has taken care to train all teachers, irrespective of subject specialization. This is intended to counter the historic focus on mathematics and science teachers, which has developed a kind of aloofness amongst these teachers in schools. The department aims to give a message that everyone can use computers.

The Internet Learning Trust, an NGO in the UK, built on the Government project by providing initial training and support for teachers in 11 Community Junior Secondary (CJS) schools identified by the Ministry of Education as suitable pilot models. The project has piloted the use of the Internet for communication and enrichment of curriculum in pilot schools. Twenty-five more CJS schools were equipped in early 2020 and a project memorandum to equip the remaining 169 CJS schools has been completed.

In the case of senior secondary schools, computer labs have been built and most of them are complete and have equipment installed. However, even before proper laboratories were built some senior secondary schools offered Computer Studies as an examinable subject. This subject falls under optional subjects and as such is not done by all students. Computers are also available at education centres and the Department of Non-formal Education (DFNE) offices. These are used for administrative and educational purposes. Most of the private schools in Botswana are connected.

Contacts:

Chris Busang, Teacher Training and Development, Ministry of Education, [email protected]

 David Ratsatsi, Curriculum Development and Evaluation, Ministry of Education, [email protected]

Websites:

Ministry of Education: http://www.moe.gov.bw/moe/index.html

Internet Learning Trust (ILT) project:

• http://www.unites.org/html/projects/botswana.htm
• http://www.saide.org.za/africaodl/countries/botswana/ministry.htm

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World Links Botswana

World Links began working in Botswana in 2020. The programme has been very successful and has expanded rapidly due to the close working partnership between World Links and the Ministry of Education. Currently 15 community junior secondary schools are part of the programme. The schools are spread throughout the country, from the urban centres to remote rural villages. Four major training events have taken place, and 15 school headmasters, 30 teacher coordinators and 100 teachers have been trained in the uses of ICTs in education at the school level. Formal computer literacy programmes have been introduced in half of the schools, with additional work being done in the computer labs outside of normal school hours. All schools participating have Internet access.

Contact:

Bushy Mmatli (Botswana coordinator – no contact details available)

Eliada Gudza (Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa) [email protected]

Website: http://www.world-links.org/english/html/botswana.html