Department of Non-formal Education - Botswana

Source: Ministry of Education

The Department of Non-formal Education is responsible for the provision of learning opportunities outside the school system

• to give access to those who wish to complete basic level of education, to continue their education and training to higher level or
• to pursue learning for the sake of personal or social development.

Two major programmes are conducted by the Department

• Adult Basic Education
• Distance Education

The main clients of the Department are;

• school-age children who are not in school for one reason or another and who need basic education;
• adults who lack basic education;
• young people who wish to complete their secondary level education;
• adults who wish to improve their academic qualifications and work-related skills;
• adults who wish to acquire new knowledge, skills and attitudes in order to improve the quality of their individual and community life

The out-of-school education goals are to;

• establish a learning society in which education is seen as a lifelong process.

• guarantee universal access to basic education for school-age children and adults in order to promote equity and social justice.

• provide opportunities for young people and adults to further their initial education to higher stages in order to raise the general level of education of the population.

• provide opportunities for adults to acquire work-related skills that will improve their productivity and standard of living, and promote economic growth.

• increase the ability of adults to take part in social, political, cultural and sporting affairs in order to improve their quality of life and promote greater participation in the development process.

The roles of the two major programmes are:

Adult Basic Education

The Adult Basic Education Programme is responsible for promoting, supporting, monitoring rural out of school education at primary level. It has the central responsibility for out of school programmes for children. It is also responsible for post literacy activities particularly towards the development of a literate environment. It is mandated with the responsibility to introduce an Adult Basic Education Course equivalent to Standard Seven Schooling and to provide training in technical and business skills for rural and urban sectors. Furthermore, the Adult Basic Education Programme has the responsibility to review all training for informal sector as well as to take a broader and more innovative approach to the learning needs engendered by contemporary social developments.

Distance Education

The Distance Education Programme is responsible for providing various courses to different groups by distance and open learning. Out of this programme will be born the Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL). The aim of the College will be to provide high quality learning access to out of school young people and adults nationwide using methods of distance and open learning. The following are the College priority programmes;

• out of school secondary education for both young people and adults who wish to obtain certificates at both junior and Senior Secondary levels.
• post basic vocational, professional and management courses for employed people and/or pre-employment young people.
• offer a comprehensive and extensive "O" level programme.

The College will be an autonomous body guided by a Board of Governors.

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