Exceptional Pupils Must Be Identified - Rammidi

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday March 1, 2010 00:00

 

Assistant Minister of Local Government, Kentse Rammidi has said it is time for government and relevant stakeholders to scout talent in primary schools, in an effort to build a pool of human resources in areas of innovation.

In an interview with the The Monitor Rammidi said, 'the country has a number of exceptionally intelligent students whose potential usually goes to waste due to lack of facilities in place to harness that talent'.

Rammidi said in most instances exceptional performers at primary schools are usually affected by environmental factors. The fact that these students are usually housed in lecture facilities with what he termed 'slow learners' can also contribute negatively towards their academic career as such settings lack a healthy competitive spirit towards learning. He also cited lack of motivation and having nothing to look up to in instances where a pupil has to pursue their academic career in very remote areas.

'Such an environment is also a danger to the country's human resource, as the child sees nothing beyond the trees in that village,' he said.

He urged government and other stakeholders in areas of innovation, to play an active role in ensuring that such pupils are identified at an early age.

'Maybe the role that government could play here with the aid of teachers, can be taking these students through prestigious secondary schools, ' he said.

He suggested that innovative institutions such as the Rural Industries Innovation Centre and Botswana Telecommunications Company come on board to ensure that they get the relevant tertiary education that can better equip them to fill the gap that the country is currently experiencing. 

Rammidi said he would research on the subject and discuss it with the Ministry of Education and Skills Development. He expressed hope that it would be among issues delivered to the nation in the coming State of the Nation address.

He also decried lack of integration of the once technical certificate that was offered by the Botswana Polytechnic before its transformation into the Faculty of Engineering and Technology. He said this has led to a dearth of citizen artisans hence the influx of expatriates in this industry. He said the technical certificate, which is above the craft certificate offered now, was important as it produced artisans and middle managers for those that did not qualify for diploma and degree programmes.