1. DUMELANG!

2. INCLUSIVE EDUCATION The Case of Botswana
PRESENTATION AT SADC CARE&SUPPORT FOR TEACHING AND LEARNING
Presented By Oemetse Sally Nkoane and Acro News Maseko
Durban, South Africa
22nd - 24th November 2016, COASTLANDS HOTEL

3. Presentation Outline A description of the programme or policy
Achievements
Challenges
Opportunities/Emerging Issues
Key lessons learnt

4. BASIC EDUCATION LANDSCAPE IN BOTSWANA
LEVEL
No. of Schools
Enrolments
No. of Teachers
Pre-Primary
382
16 536
573
Primary
755
11 424
Junior Secondary
207
13 370
Senior Secondary 32
55 049
Unified Secondary 2
2 154
152
Total
1 378
25 519

5. Inclusive Education Policy Defined
The Policy provides for children, young people and adults equitable access to relevant and quality education regardless of their gender, age, life circumstances, health, disability, stage of development, socio-economic circumstances and their capacity to learn.
Policy was launched in September 2013

6. LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT GUIDED DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLICY
Botswana signatory to human rights Conventions
Convention on the Right of the Child (1989) - education is a right for every child
World declaration of Education for All (1990) – called inclusion of marginalised communities
Children’s Act of Every child’s right to free Basic Education

7. Policy Frameworks cont’d.
Salamanca Declaration (1990) - inclusive education for meaningful participation in socio-economic activities
Botswana Revised National Policy on Education (1994) – recognises education as fundamental right for every child
Goal: to increase access and equity to quality education
10 year Basic Education for all
All these resulted in the development of Inclusive Education Policy (Sept. 2011)

8. Goals of Inclusive Education policy
All children to access 10 years of basic education having gone through Early childhood care &education
Develop skilled teachers and provide resources for children of different abilities
Develop and strengthen Out-of-school education programmes

9. Goals of Inclusive Education Policy
Supportive and humane schools, child friendly schools
Multi-sectorial approach to inclusive education system

10. Achievements Early Childhood Care &Support
establishment of Early Childhood Care and Education classes in some Public Primary schools(1 year programme for 41/2-5 year olds) from 2014
Six weeks Orientation Programme for prospective Standard 1 pupils
Development of Policy Framework for 0-3 years in partnership with UNICEF
Construction of Early Childhood classes at remote areas in partnership with Embassy of Japan
Pre-school Education – learners in marginalised communities and rural areas given a head start.

11. Achievements Disability Inclusion in Education
Special Education units and rehabilitation centres countrywide
Employment of Teacher Aides – to assist Special Education teachers.
Employment of Caretakers – to take care of students with profound disability – wheel chair bound learners
Infrastructure and designs – appropriate furniture for pre-school learners, appropriate toilets for people with physical disabilities, ramps in schools
Adaptation of core textbooks into Braille

12. Achievements cont’d
Construction of one or two (2) teacher schools in small settlements.
The government budgets and provides annual subventions to NGO’s offering Special Education services.
Integration of learners with disability into the mainstream education system; inclusion of SEN learners in school activities e.g. student leadership, social safety nets for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVCs)& Rural Area Dwellers (RADs)

13. Achievements cont’d
Curriculum design and implementation - varied assessment objectives to cater for learners of different abilities,
Flexible education provision for out of school youth and young adults through Out of School Education and Training(OSET) and Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL) programmes across all ages and settings, including at prison and the lands etc.
– young offenders taught in rehabilitation centres.

14. Achievements increased access to 10 years of basic education
Diagnostic assessment, placement and support for learners with Special needs
Affirmative action -special dispensation in tertiary education financing.
Back to school initiative – afforded students to be re- tooled to undertake courses relevant to the economy.

15. Achievements cont’d Participation of key stakeholders–
Adopt – A -School initiative Private Sector, NGOs donate appropriate equipment and facilities to schools.
Provision of life skills to SEN learners
Social & Community Development assistance to OVCs and needy students
Affirmative action : Employment opportunities for SEN learners by both government and private sector; provision of food baskets, school uniform for OVCs and RADs

16. Achievements cont’d.
Accreditation of Out of School learners on vocational skills
Back to school programme ( )
Supportive and humane schools – Schools are more child friendly, dropout rate decreased due to COS, cases of bullying declined etc.

17. Challenges Expensive Special Education equipment
Insufficient specialists – Education Psychologists, SPED teachers
Limited Assessment Centres
Limited access to buildings/facilities not compliant to use by learners with physical disabilities .
Legislative enforcement –Children’s Act (2009) a lot of buy in by the greater community needed.

18. Challenges
Ownership and commitment to programme resourcing and implementation
Inadequate effective monitoring and evaluation of implementation of the policy.

19. Opportunities/Emerging Issues
Political will to support achievement of greater equity and quality education for all
Effective implementation of the 2015 Education and Training Strategic Sector Plan
Implementation of outcome based education; Dual Pathways to cater for both academic and vocational education.
Adopt A school Initiative to enhance stakeholder participation in Education.
Recognition of prior learning and alternative learning.

20. Key Lessons Learnt Inclusiveness, a solution to social disparities
Increased stakeholder participation at all levels of society improves delivery of quality education
Policy harmonisation contributes immensely to the holistic development of the child.

21. THANK YOU