SPERA advocates use of local languages

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Tuesday May 18, 2010 00:00

The workshop that was organised by Letloa Trust, which is part of the Kuru Family Organisations (KFO) Support Programme for Education in Remote Areas (SPERA) - an initiative of KFO, has therefore recommended San-friendly schools, as mainstream schools are unfriendly, alienating and remove young child away from home to an institutionalised hostel environment and children suffer discrimination, stigma and economic hardships.

Jennifer Hays of the University of Tromso and SPERA head, revealed in their proposal to the Ministry of Education and Skills Development that Remote Area Dwellers (RADs) in Botswana continue to drop out of the formal education system at significantly higher rates than other populations, despite many targeted efforts to improve their situation and to provide them with educational opportunities.

As a result, remote communities face problems of dependency and alienation, due largely to their inability to participate in mainstream political, economic and social institutions. SPERA will design and implement more effective educational programmes for remote communities, in collaboration with government and other educational institutions in Botswana.

She said global research indicates that the most effective way to increase access to the languages of wider communication is to provide education with a foundation in the indigenous language. Hays stated that SPERA would thus focus on multilingual education, which is providing access to home language education and simultaneously improving access to Setswana and English. The aim of SPERA is to increase the capacity of Remote Area Dwellers in Botswana to manage their own development, education initiatives and to participate fully in the nation's mainstream economy and society.

Several scenarios were considered for the school model. According to Hays, three primary schools are to be phased in over two phases, being in Gantsi where Naro language is to be used, Dobe where Ju'/hoansi is to be the main language of instruction, while in Shakawe where Kwedam was to be used. The junior school is to be located in Gantsi in phase two as a multilingual school going up to Form Three initially and later up to Form Five.

Hays revealed further that SPERA has proposed for teaching and learning to use modern educational theory finds that San traditional educational systems are on par with cutting edge teaching methodologies.

Outreach programmes are to include adult literacy, integration of out-of-school youth, school holiday exchange programmes and model site for sensitising teachers to alternative methods. The community involvement will include school governing bodies, design of school and staff selection and ensure traditional knowledge systems are integrated into curriculum. MEP recommended development of a learning environment that incorporates and builds on the language, culture of learners and builds their confidence and self-esteem. It recommended an education programme that allows for options in order that the San might be flexible in their economic choices, an education system that allows learners to develop skills that will be useful to them and will allow them to pursue a lifestyle that they choose, opportunities for San learners on the completion of schooling and to engage ongoing community consultation   through all stages of the project design.

Hays explained that following the two-year Research and Groundwork Phase, SPERA would become an independent NGO that will implement projects based on the research conducted by the SPERA Working Group. 'Funding for implementation will be sought from  De Beers/ Debswana.  Other donors will also be approached, and other funding options explored, including support from government,' she said.

SPERA is grounded in the long-term involvement of KFO and affiliated organisations with language and education initiatives in remote areas, including: Targeted development and education projects by KFO in Botswana's remote communities, extensive research on the core educational problems facing remote minorities in southern Africa, the Regional San Education Programme, of the Working Group of Indigenous Minorities in Southern Africa (WIMSA) and Several conferences, including the Regional Mother Tongue Conference, held in Gaborone in June 2005

The concept for SPERA, initially presented in 2004 as the Minority Education Project, has since been refined to meet the most urgent needs identified by key stakeholders. According to Hays the current proposal is based on consultations with remote communities in Botswana, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Local Government, relevant NGOs, relevant departments at UB, relevant parastatals and language and education experts.