Paradigm shift due
Mmegi Editor | Tuesday November 22, 2016 14:17
She said government’s thinking was on identifying students’ strength at an early stage and honing these, rather than the current imprecise, wholesale approach that places a premium on academics over practicals.
We agree with the minister, but feel even more radical thinking is required around our education system, starting from primary level going up.
Botswana’s historical and cultural linkages with the United Kingdom and America, have meant we adopted their approach to education, which prioritises academic universities over vocational and technical training.
The entire system places a premium on academic universities, while vocational and technical training is seen as the refuge for those students who could not make the grade.
The University of Botswana, the primary recipient of public tertiary education funding and the main channel for the expression of government’s strategic thinking around higher education, is clearly modelled around classic Anglo-American academic universities such as Oxford and Harvard.
Clearly, the economy is desperately in need of more human capital development. This is particularly the case as Botswana begins the painful transition from an economy driven by the mining miracle, to one where services, manufacturing, knowledge and entrepreneurship will have to take the central role.
The start is by developing and funding an education system sensitive to the needs of the economy now and its aspirations for the future. The mining miracle enabled the development of primary infrastructure such as water and electricity, and today, we expect these other non-mining sectors to develop a modern, Information Age and competitive economy for the future.
Similarly, strategic thinking around education should be to build the basics, then building on that guide the student towards training and eventually a career choice based on his/her natural strengths and the needs of the economy.
Vocational and technical training are critical for the future of Botswana and the shift away from a primary economy, to a secondary and a tertiary. Already, mines are closing across the country and government’s ability to fund the skills development required for tomorrow’s economy, will be greatly impacted by the lower revenue and competing needs.
It is not a mission impossible. In Switzerland, which tops the Global Competitiveness Reports, the majority of high school students go for technical education before advancing to universities of applied sciences. These are the skills that are supporting their developed economy and enhancing the country’s competitiveness. India has also undergone this transformation, using the Information Technology revolution to anchor the economy as a global hub of Business Process Outsourcing and low cost innovation.
These changes are possible in Botswana and indeed are underway in various forms, but they require bolder, more determined steps, as well as a closer synergy with industry stakeholders and investors.
Today’s thought
“It is absolutely critical that as government we focus on building an economy that can in fact create jobs for Botswana, not to abandon such talent.”
- Unity Dow