Out of school education: The silent game changer
Siki Motshwari Johannes | Tuesday September 19, 2017 16:03
The day marks the importance of education and highlight challenges associated with provision of teaching and learning across the globe. The event was held under the auspices of the Out of School Education and Training (OSET), an arm of the Basic Education Ministry.
There was no pomp and fanfare. Simplicity appeared to be the name of the game.
Welcoming the guests was Kgosi Gomolemo Omphile, standing in for Kgosi Serogola Seretse. A gifted and eloquent speaker, Kgosi Omphile appeared well versed with the subject matter, touching on the core issues that are of major concern to OSET.
He highlighted the plight of the marginalised Basarwa community in Serowe who do not seem to be keen to take up learning opportunities on offer. He made an impassioned plea for increased enrolments of the Basarwa into literacy programmes.
When he took the stage, the assistant Miister of Basic Education, Moiseraele Goya, harped on the theme of the day, ‘Literacy in the digital world’.
He applauded OSET for embracing and integrating ICT into the adult learning programmes. OSET better known as Non-Formal Education traditionally focused attention on reading, writing and numeracy.
On the day, the most thrilling aspect of the programme was the learner testimonies.
Four of them were lined up for this purpose, all sharing moving and touching stories. But the most interesting story was that of Giyani Ganetsang who thrilled with his good command of English.
“I lost my parents at a tender age and my future hung in the balance because the loss of parents deprived me of an opportunity to go to school. Then my fortunes changed for the better when I enrolled with OSET,” Ganetsang narrated.
Through OSET, Ganetsang wrote and passed his PSLE in 2009 and later proceeded to write BGCSE through BOCODOL. Thanks to the foundation laid by OSET, Ganetsang is now employed and also ministers at his own church.
With the official event over, the top table was led to the stalls to view learners’ artifacts. This is where OSET sets itself apart from other levels of our education.
OSET has strong skills development offering pottery, bakery, dressmaking and leather works to mention a few. A wide range of finished products made by the adult learners were displayed.
Some of the products are sold to the tourists.
The Day’s activities put to rest negative perception towards OSET. They showed that there is nothing fancy about out-of-school learning experience, as instruction takes place in the open space, or old and dilapidated structures.
Teaching and learning takes place in an environment and conditions, which teachers and students in the formal school set up, would describe as less conducive or, bluntly, appalling.
It also emerged that despite making a profound impact on lives, OSET is seriously under-funded while formal education on the one hand continues to get the lion’s share of the ministry’ budget.