Private sector contribution to education helpful
Ministry of Education and Skills Development, deputy permanent secretary Mr Oupa Masesane says the ministry recognises with a lot of appreciation the contribution of the private sector and other government departments and agencies in the development and delivery of education in the country. Speaking at BOSSA-IDM 2016 National Fair Programme held at Kagiso Senior School recently Mr Masesane commended Institute of Development Management (IDM), Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime (DCEC), Collegium Educational Publishers (CEP) and MVA Fund for great partnership and support in line with the objective of the Adopt A School initiative. He emphasised that the education system in Botswana has been experiencing a decline in performance at all levels of basic education for the past five years. “The nation is looking up to us as education practitioners to positively reverse this trend and put back the education profession to the good image that it used to be known for,” said Mr Masesane. He said the 21st century had brought a crisis in sociological thinking and therefore the education system should produce learners who will fit, participate and compete globally. Mr Masesane said the skills that learners acquired through fairs should assist them to understand how they were connected with the outside world. He added that it nurtured research and enquiry skills and encouraged students to use technology to help research an issue and construct a line of argument. Botswana Social Studies Association chairperson, Mr Moagi Mukokomani highlighted that educational fairs were important as they boosted students articulation and confidence. He also said educational fairs assisted students to communicate their view points and help them promote independent creative thinking. Mr Mukokomani urged students to work hard and to produce good results in their education. He explained that for the educational fair to be successful it was through the help and partnership with IDM, DCEC, and MVA Fund who supported them financially in order for them to achieve their mandate.  He noted that social studies subject had improved both in Junior Certificate and Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education levels. 