Primary education needs an overhaul

| Friday March 12, 2010 00:00

I shall die of an intellectual repression. A lady's right is uncontrollable laughter and freedom of speech, let me speak out.It's been three months since the schools re-opened, and I have been waiting patiently to hear for the changes in Education system especially Primary Department. All I heard was the dress code address, change in Secondary and Tertiary nothing to do with the upgrading of the Primary Education system in Botswana.

First of all, several issues have been addressed on teachers' behaviour, and I so agree that those teachers who misbehave should be punished. First and foremost, having an affair with your student should never cross your mind.

The education system of Botswana, I feel, is way behind time, so many things need to be changed. I think we can all agree that our great grandfathers used the same system and we still have destitutes around who can read and write their names but still their lifestyle has not changed.

Education changes the lives of people. There is a growing realization that the development of individuals and communities depend on Education and on the quality of teaching and learning. The needs of individuals as well as the needs of the society develop lifelong and autonomous people. The Education system should change from the foundation, at primary level.

There is a Setswana proverb that says, 'Lore lo ojwa lo sale metsi' The proverb does have a good meaning but when it comes to Botswana's Education, it is the opposite, looking at how resources are distributed. The Primary Department is second classed when it comes to resources. If you wish to teach a child algebra, computers, swimming and all other things at 16, its best you start at 8. The primary school kids are not well equipped with world knowledge, only a few who are privileged. The sporting activities, classroom activities, food, learning equipment, teachers good welfare. I can name a lot are well looked at in secondary department. People learn easily at a young age, and if all the necessary things can be done at primary school, for sure we can see developments.

Why should you leave the foundation and reinforce the wall, it will fall down.

The English Medium schools are doing the same syllabus with Tswana Medium schools but the results are totally two different things and there goes a 'Why?' The reason is simple and straight. There are resources, less number of pupils in a class. Teachers are well paid.

Teachers have less work, and so many things can be said. I am saying all these because I went for my teaching practice at an English Medium school and I saw wonders those people are companies, if they can, why can't the government do it.  I know it is not easy, but try it out with at least a small number of schools around Botswana.

Good learning environment, good working place, good living place all foster good learning and delivery.

The system needs to be changed if at all we want to be, 'An education and informed nation'. Help us we can deliver...

FoodThe secondary pupils are well fed, they are provided with a full course meal and a balanced diet, but the question lies, who needs to be well fed between a grown up and a child or kid? The primary pupils still eat soft porridge without sugar, white samp, dinawa, and they thought they upgraded by adding bread but still is not enough. I hear that at secondary schools, they are provided with all these food because they knock off in the afternoon, but the primary schools also knock off in the afternoon after extra-curricular activities.

Sporting ActivitiesAll the sporting codes are there at secondary level and furnished with equipment. People don't you see if we can start all these at a primary level sure we can produce some good things. The pupils will grow up being involved.

Primary education need to change, we are there to take it to the top. The secondary teachers should find everything smooth.

Learning EquipmentThe secondary department is all furnished with good learning materials or equipment, computer labs, science labs, home economics labs, but primary nothing at all, how can the people be educated while they are not taken care of, education will always be a privilege if some things are not taken care of.If you can take a closer look at the syllabus, we do a lot of experiments but they are never a success because there are no resources. Of course there is this system backlog eradication, yah you are trying but it's not enough, change the system.

Teachers WelfareIn a secondary school before the school is built, the teachers quarters are built first, but with a primary no, school first and how can the education be improved while we still cry over accommodation if at all we could be having a house to share it could be better than nothing. Please do something for Botswana's education.

A lot can be said to show how the primary department is far behind time. This is not helping, we are always going to have failures because failing starts at a young age, but if there are some other things that people have learnt at school, they can sure make a living out of that, because they have been giving light at a young age, primary level.  The teachers in primary schools are no longer 'bomagogo' or basadibagolo', we are there to improve everything and please help us do what we can by providing resources. We want to deliver perfectly.We no longer want to hand failures to secondary schools, we want to give them people who know good life skills and I am crying out for help...

Gaokgakala Malebogo