Multigrade Curriculum Guidelines Launched
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday February 22, 2016 16:30
The materials are intended for use at lower primary level (Standard 1-4) especially in rural areas with small learner populations, to improve access, quality, equity and accountability in learning and suite the requirements of a multi-grade teaching and learning environment.
Following the launch, the assistant minister of Education Moiseraele Goya told The Monitor that government is concerned by the number of children who remain out of school, especially in remote areas, hence the commitment to find ways to address the issue. He said that it has been realised that in areas where the system has been piloted it has worked although challenges remain. He said that it is his ministry’s intention to deal with problems besieging the education and teaching profession.
“We know that even where the system is used it has worked for some time but eventually becomes a problem when the students graduate to schools that do not provide multi-grade teaching as their results suffer,” he said.
Goya said that they intend to build more classrooms at those schools so that students remain under the programme within the same area until they complete their primary level education.
Goya, who is also a Member of Parliament for Palapye, said that all stakeholders have been part of this initiative since 2011. He said that the publication of the multi-grade teaching materials would improve the quality of learning and learner achievement. He said that government endeavours to provide 100 percent access to basic education for all children of school going age.
Botswana Primary Teachers Association (BOPRITA) vice president Jacob Tshipo commended the Ministry for the initiative. He said that the system would help in instances of teachers’ shortage and improve learning.