10 Oct 2019

Political parties contesting the 2019 general elections believe that quality education should be provided to every child regardless of how wealthy or poor their parents are.

Speaking in Lobatse on October 9, during political debate on education sector in Botswana, Real Alternative Party (RAP) representative Mr Gaontebale Mokgosi said children from rich families were the only ones enjoying quality education from private schools, while those attending government schools faced challenges.

He said RAP, if elected to power, would make sure that government schools provide quality education, which would produce graduates with innovative skills.

“RAP believes that education should not discriminate anyone.

Every child should leave school in possession of some kind of knowledge,” he said.

Alliance for Progressives (AP) representative Mr Shaffi Pandor said education provided in government schools had declined to alarming levels.

Mr Pandor said AP, if it attained power, would develop the education sector by promoting technology-based learning from primary school level.  

“We will invest a lot in education, 50 per cent on vocational training to produce technicians, electricians and plumbers,” he said.

 Mr Pandor added that his party would decrease the high level of pupil/teacher ratio in government schools to around 25 learners per teacher.

He further said AP would address teachers’ working conditions by providing them with sufficient accommodation and increasing their salary.

Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) representative Mr Fidelis Molao, said his party if it retained power, would continue addressing challenges facing the education sector.

Mr Molao said BDP took education seriously and had continued allocating substantial funds to the sector every year.  

He said BDP would reduce class size to around 30 pupils in an effort to improve learning conditions in government schools.

He further said they would continue rolling out the use of ICT in government schools.

“We already have around 302 secondary schools that have computer technology, and 2 764 teachers trained on ICT.

Each primary school has been provided with an internet server in an effort to promote ICT in schools,” he said.

He further said the party would implement the dual pathways programme and would also commit more funds to STEM subjects and vocational training.  

Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) representative Mr Nehemiah Modubule said his party would phase out the ‘two tier education system’ of English Mediums and Tswana Mediums. Mr Modubule said children should receive the same quality of education. He said BMD would provided government schools with quality teachers and facilities to promote quality education. “The standard of education provided in government schools will be equivalent to that provided in English mediums under BMD government,” he said.

Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) representative Dr Micus Chimbombi said they would make education compulsory because education is a human right. Dr Chimbombi also said they would reduce the student/teacher ratio to 1:25 and also promote education with production in government schools.

Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF) representative Mr Kagisano Tamocha said BPF would promote education system with multiple pathways. Mr Tamocha also said they would address working conditions for teachers and have primary school teachers specialise on particular subjects. He further said they would introduce coding in the education system to promote innovation learning by students. ENDS