Tau rues unimplemented revised education policy
Goitsemodimo Akanyang | Wednesday March 13, 2019 11:06
RNPE of 1994 represents the country's response to globalisation and it is a blueprint that was meant to produce self-programmable learners for an economy undergoing rapid transformation.
Speaking during BOU’s brand launch at the Francistown Regional Campus recently, Tau said RNPE is a panacea to the problems besieging the country’s education system such as the low pass rates; both at the upper and lower levels of the education system, which have been on a downward spiral for many years.
Tau, who is a former educator and sports administrator par excellence, said that for the country to diversify its economy and compete in the global village, it needs a competent pool of people who are skilled in various fields.
In the past, various stakeholders especially opposition politicians roasted government over hot coals for not implementing the RNPE. They said that while the education system was on a sick bed, the RNPE was gathering dust somewhere at the government enclave without been utilised. This they added was notwithstanding the fact that a lot of resources were used to consult various stakeholders in and outside the country who helped in devising in concept.
In a related issue, Tau said BOU is an university that is well positioned to the nation in its aspiration to “Achieve Prosperity for All” through the Vision 2016 pillar two on Human and Social Development, which calls for a knowledgeable Botswana society with relevant quality outcome-based education that will provide lifelong learning and training opportunities for all.
“Anchored on Open and Distance Learning (ODL) and committed to lifelong learning, BOU is a mass university with flexible, inclusive and widely accessible programmes and is poised to be recognised globally for academic excellence, research and innovation,” said Tau.
Tau pleaded with the city leadership to partake in promoting the services that the University provides through the Francistown Campus.
“We need your help in reaching out as well as in positively changing the mindsets of the local communities to appreciate lifelong learning and to take advantage of the opportunities it presents. We will continue to count on your unwavering support as agents of change in this regard.”