Over 1,000 reception class teachers needed
Baboki Kayawe | Friday December 2, 2016 15:48
The programme, which started as a pilot project in six schools in the Kgalagadi region, has thus far been rolled out to 382 primary schools, with 535 teachers offering reception classes.
The initiative is implemented under the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP), under which ECCD is viewed as the flagship for education transformation. This strategy, expected to transform education runs from 2015-2020.
ETSSP coordinator, Shadrack Majwabe yesterday told Mmegi in an interview that pre-primary education “has been the biggest mis-link” in the system. To remedy this situation, the initiative is projected to have a nationwide coverage, extending to 755 schools in two years.
“Learning without ECCD becomes difficult for pupils during their early primary years, especially Standard One, which infact becomes reception class for such learners,” Majwabe said.
He further explained this is the most crucial stage in the learning career, because it’s then when essential brain functions required for learning are still developing, specialised nutritional requirements to facilitate growth needed, as well as health facilities as these pupils are prone to health complications. Additionally, furniture and learning material ought to be suited for their age and developmental needs, he explained. To efficiently execute this, Majwabe said the budget runs into millions.
“But it’s better to start with what we have rather than wait. We are seeing improvements already among those learners who underwent pre-primary learning,” he said.
He said ECCD curriculum is comprehensive, and he is optimistic that the impact will be seen in the long term. Majwabe added that it is of utmost significance for a paradigm shift in order for more learning than teaching to happen at all levels.
“I personally do not agree that factors such as class size are instrumental for poor national exams results. It is not about student population. It all boils down to how teaching is executed. If learners are just fed theories without their participation and engagement, no meaningful learning would happen,” he said.
“So, this change has to begin right at pre-primary education,” said Majwabe.
There are 594 qualified ECCD teachers in the country, 52 of which are serving, while 33 others are enrolled for Degrees in the field to graduate in 2017. However, among the current practising ones, Majwabe explained that they had to retool those who were already in the classroom to enable them to teach pre-primary level.
The ETSSP prioritises increasing access to early childhood and pre-primary education, to engage with and respond to the needs of young children and their families so that Botswana’s young children have the best possible start to life.
“The strategy seeks to achieve positive early childhood development outcomes and address concerns about individual children’s development and the need for early learning to reduce and minimise the impact of risk factors before problems become entrenched,” reads the document.