Is there value still in literacy?
Friday, May 15, 2015
Off to school: The value of literacy is declining in the eyes of the new generation
Failure to set foot in a classroom robbed Kgosi Gaebolae Goitseone from Jamakata of his top position in the recently gazetted village. This came after government upgraded the village Kgotla from Arbitration to Records early last year, which came with a condition that the Kgosi should be literate enough to be able to read and write.
Unfortunately, Goitseone, who had salivated for a salaried position after years of voluntary service, failed to satisfy the condition because he does not know how to read and write.
Whilst we join Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) and other stakeholders in commending the rise in top grades, a testament to the unwavering effort of many teachers and pupils, this progress is fundamentally shadowed by a failing that shames our society. The stark, persistent urban-rural divide is not just a statistic, but an active betrayal of thousands of young Batswana.The figures are a damning indictment. When pass rates in...