Broke gov’t turns to TVET students for facility upkeep
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Wednesday November 12, 2025 06:00
'The government is aware of unused and underutilised education facilities and is committed to implementing transformative measures where maintenance of facilities will be done through TVET students for cost efficiency,' Boko said yesterday when delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
This suggests that instead of using the expensive tendering system for maintenance, the government will engage TEVT students to perform necessary upkeep as a practical way for them to learn and gain work experience.
This follows as TVET has been identified as a top priority of the current administration to promote industrialisation.
'The current focus of government is to transform higher education and prioritise Technical Vocational Education and Training, which has been identified as an anchor for economic transformation and job creation,' Boko explained.
Recently, the Minister of Higher Education, Prince Maele, presented a budget proposal of P8.617 billion development expenditure plan for his ministry under the National Development Plan 12 (NDP12). From this spending proposal, TVET will receive the largest allocation of P4.279 billion, representing nearly half of the ministry’s total budget. Furthermore, Boko said in a continued endeavour to improve the state of education, the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, is in the process of securing a loan from the World Bank amounting to (P1,409,715,000).
He stated that the loan will cover the refurbishment of schools and expand access to secondary education across the country, strengthen training and support teachers, establish a student learning management system, promote Early Childhood Development (ECD), support out-of-school children and youth, and advance Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) teaching and learning.
'To date, 12 new primary schools are under construction. Of these, six schools in Oodi, Gaborone (two), Mogoditshane, Kumakwane, and Francistown are practically complete, whilst the remaining six are progressing well. Government continues to address the shortage of classrooms, teachers’ houses, and toilets under the backlog eradication programme across all local authorities,' he said.
Additionally, Boko said the government is looking to transform the education system by adopting a STEAM-driven curriculum through the General Curriculum and Assessment Framework (GECAF). He explained that this framework is designed to produce a globally competitive workforce by focusing on Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics.
'To ensure successful implementation of this new curriculum, the government is prioritising two key areas: teacher empowerment, and infrastructure transformation and digitalisation. Teachers will be upskilled and retrained to deliver the integrated STEAM approach effectively. These transformations will target all levels from early childhood to senior secondary and will be implemented to deliver the STEAM curricula in the January 2026 academic year,' he explained.