Politicians in the capital city are fighting a bitter war, but our public education system is falling apart and is spitting in the face of cost-sharing parents. It has been on a downward spiral for years now. Atleast the new minister has acknowledged this. “The [PSLE] has gradually declined from 72.9% in 2009 to 69.8% in 2008 and 68.2% in 2009”according to Mrs Venson-Moitoi quoted by Botswana Gazette 03-09 March 2009. The paper further quotes her saying the BGCSE pass rate (C or better), has dropped from 37.5% in 2008 to 35% in 2009. From a higher education perspective, this is a disturbing picture. One wonders what the long term implications of this are, in terms of the sustainability and supply of quality entrants into the highest institutions of learning. That we are entering a phase of significant transformation in our higher education sector is beyond question. The question is what risks does our crumbling public education system pose for the changes we are about to witness in the higher education sector? A revamped student funding system is looming and so is more regulation, not forgetting intensive research-orientation, prioritisation of programmes in favour of science and math-based programmes, new entrants and more commercialisation. How do we expect a (public education) system falling apart to prepare learners for a new era of higher education dispensation? To address this appalling state of affairs, that is our falling pass rates, the Minister pledged a comprehensive response. My view is that our universities will be served better if we create an elite model within the public education system (formal) as a means to an end. This model should usher in the strengthening of a select few public schools as centres of excellence. They need to be resourced, human and capital-wise, and pull the average to the brightest pupils from within and across the public education system to these centres. Then simply roll out the model across the entire system. Whether this move serves a leftist, centrist or rightist educational agenda, I don’t know, matter of fact, I don’t care. To me the choice is simple. Continue to have the wealthy few privately educate and privatise the responsibility for educational success to the individual parent/child and school (not that it is wrong), and have this trend (of the declining quality of education) continue. Or we could co-opt the same elitist approach and carefully run it within the public education system for the benefit of all, including those who cannot afford to privately educate. This will better serve our universities by ensuring an overflowing river to fish from, after all they have stake to lose should the river run dry.
Posted by: nudohn | March 31, 2010
Fishing from a Drying River: Evidence from Our 2009 Form 5 Results
Posted in widening participation
i think you have hit the bull on the horn as they say, this can be one of the ways that these nosediving standards of our education system can be reversed. this looks like a long term solution to me, therefore, the question is, what do we do in the short and medium terms?
the other questions that i would love us to consider are;
-is this not a resultant of burnout from the teachers? if so, how do we keep them motivated?
- are we as parents taking an initiative as far as our children`s education is concerned?
i believe whilst looking for solutions from the government, we must not forget the role that other stakeholders in the education system have to play and whether they are really aware of them or not. as you said , this government has too much (unnecessary) stuff for it to deal with; internal fightings, the fight against the poor drunks etcetera so we have to grab our children`s future (education) by the scruff of its neck and ensure it is in the right direction.
these are wonderful ideas you bringing forward Mr Lekwati and i just wanted to bring a different perspective to the issue.
thanks
By: mogomotsi kenalemang on March 31, 2010
at 16:24
Pearl Phakedi via facebook said, “I agree witchu tht ur public edu system is deterioratin bt i dnt thnk yo survival of the fitest idea wilb of any help 2 the situatn. Al t’l do is favour the few and condemn the rest, the msg we wil b sendin 2 kids who wnt get to be selectd is ”u are dooomd”’ and tht nt a gud way 2 grow an educatd nation! We al kno whr the select few wil cum frm….ppl frm undaresourcd areas wilb disadvantagd by the system:-(. “
By: nudohn on April 1, 2010
at 09:18
Victor Setlhare has this to say. “I have a notion my friend, i’m not an academic but who knows sometimes a simple clear strategy is the missing piece in the puzzle.
Lets roll back this thing a little bit, with much logic and less intellect for a bit.
1. When a pupil produces poor results, somehow and most probably the teacher’s delivery is not up to a certain stantard.
2. Ok, but a teacher can only deliver what he was taught at the College of Education…. See more
3. So, what level of qaulity does the College of Education hold then? well, not to step on anybody’s toes here but from my observation this college does not even match up to the attract the UB (mind you this is the UB we’re talking about) in terms of local admissions.
4. Moving on, who runs the College of Education? is it not the same Ministry thats mourning about the pupil’s very poor results?
5. Yes, my dear friends, start pouring money in the Botswana College of Education and you’ll see results, until it grows to be a competitive University of Education Studies i’m afraid we’ll continue to see the same disappointing results.
6. Now we know why all the high flying private schools are producing exellent results, they dont hire from the College of Education!”
By: nudohn on April 1, 2010
at 12:12
pure logic! so u blv teacher education is shabby coz of under-investment? i blv Phinie shares the same sentiments, that its the system that even keeps our teachers’ morale low. still following ur logic approach, do the ppl who run the teacher edu system listen to advice they seek? if u remember the Kedikilwe commission on Edu of 94, nt even half of… See more the recommendations hv bn adoped…so operate the whole damn thing on private principles and see improvement…This would nt dprive the less priveleged as Pearl fears, bt would open the same approaches used by prvt shools which r far more effective…prvt schools resource their structures, use research to inform change and ppl pay and value what they pay for. In a way one way of ensuring parental involvement Phinie is for parents to pay, a lil mor than they are currently paying.
By: nudohn on April 1, 2010
at 12:13
Its interesting that you mention adopting private principles, i almost touched on that but was a bit cautious because the private schools are mostly run by expatriates who did not get their education from our current systems (UB and BCE).
So it makes sense that they are different hence excel. So the key here is competition, can we (UB, BCE etc) compete with other institutions in producing quality teachers, who can deliver…
I’m not sure wat kind of influence Kedikilwe had at that time or the outline of his strategy, but one thing i know for sure is, if you dont have a good harmonious system/structure at the very top of the ministry of education, concerning wats important and wat needs more funding or even wat needs to be privatized and so forth its a bit hopeless. I truely believe that the BCE is being sidelined, underfunded, and just not getting the priority it deserves to solve this issue…. See more
What is my point? my point is, as much as its good to invest on a new uni and new great and exciting programs lets not forget education, remember that whatever decision we make, good or bad, will have a domino effect, and thats wats happening in public schools around Botswana, poor results year after year.
By: victor on April 5, 2010
at 18:55
we hv a piecemeal approach to improving our institutions. the world over is heavily funding edu, right from pre-primary. Its absence is having a ripple effect on whole system. its nt like our institutions cant compete, put money into the structures n ppl wil deliver.
i agree, we dnt hv a harmonius system, no wonder teacher training is just all … See moreover the place, UB, BCEs, SA universities, n all the rest of it. I doubt we can guarantee that what they learned what we need. for evidence of our haphazard approach, nt oly in edu, ask urself how long it took sam1 to realise that CEDA n LEA r in effect twins n shd hv live n behave like one…put money into structures, respect expert advise n reap the rewards…im reminded of our conversation at Buddha that night.
By: nudohn on April 6, 2010
at 14:48
I have a notion my friend, i’m not an academic but who knows sometimes a simple clear strategy is the missing piece in the puzzle.
Lets roll back this thing a little bit, with much logic and less intellect for a bit.
1. When a pupil produces poor results, somehow and most probably the teacher’s delivery is not up to a certain stantard.
2. Ok, but a teacher can only deliver what he was taught at the College of Education…. See more
3. So, what level of qaulity does the College of Education hold then? well, not to step on anybody’s toes here but from my observation this college does not even match up to the attract the UB (mind you this is the UB we’re talking about) in terms of local admissions.
4. Moving on, who runs the College of Education? is it not the same Ministry thats mourning about the pupil’s very poor results?
5. Yes, my dear friends, start pouring money in the Botswana College of Education and you’ll see results, until it grows to be a competitive University of Education Studies i’m afraid we’ll continue to see the same disappointing results.
6. Now we know why all the high flying private schools are producing exellent results, they dont hire from the College of Education!
I hope this makes sense mate lol.
By: victor on April 5, 2010
at 18:53
I’m so excited to have found this blog. I taught in government junior secondary schools, a private English medium primary school, and now I write textbooks and other educational materials. I agree the educational system is struggling and I also agree that excellence is not strived for.
There are many ways in which things can be improved without much money. I don’t approve of private schools. I think they allow the rich to stay rich. For years I have been asking why children are taught in Setswana, even at secondary school, and then tested in English. If the government values Setswana as it claims- then teach in Setswana and test in Setswana- everything tiertiary included. OR teach in English and test in English. Make a decision. Language is a huge problem for students in government schools. They get to UB and cannot even speak or write English and yet they are asked to be fluent.
At one school I taught at we managed to get the school head, against Ministry policy, to allow my department (science) to stream. I was HOD at the time and as a team we developed lessons on certian instructional objectives for three different streams. We had a fantastic pass rate in our subject, the best for that year, and the most As (27). This is also a way to help improve the low achievers and ensure the high flyers are challenged.
I now produce textbooks and I fight with my publisher all of the time to keep the standard high. I always include project work for high achievers. The materials used matter a lot.
I am hopeful that the exams council moving away from the government can be a pusher of change. If they set the bar high, all players will have to jump.
Motivation of teachers is also essential. My husband is a headmaster and even just acknowledging good work is a big motivator. Working with teachers in other schools, setting up networks with feeder schools. There are many ways to improve the situation of teachers that cost very little. NOT giving them arbitrary teacher awards based on kiss-butting though.
Sorry I’ve rambled but this is an issue very, very close to my heart.
By: Lauri on April 16, 2010
at 16:27
it is interesting to hear of the passion you have for the work you are doing Lauri. It is very commendable indeed. Reflecting on the change you advocated for and implemented with good success at institutional level, i notice that it takes initiative from an individual to advance change, no matter how minor it may seem. I appreciate that dimension because even though there is so much the government can do, which most are doubtful of, opportunities still exist to advance practical changes from the ground up.
i do also agree that language is of paramount importance to educational success regardless of socioeconomic status, and it is also a great tool for cultural revival, which we are grappling with as a country. It still saddens me that in this day and age, where indegenous languages are a source of pride across countries, ours are still are still frowned upon and grossly unappreciated. It would actually also help level the playing field in our education system, especially higher education, where campuses are so prone to divide be it class, race or even age, with language being a tool to cement the barriers. Ultimately our education system would easily produce leaders capable of translating our ‘difficult to translate’ constitution.
By: nudohn on April 18, 2010
at 14:20