University Botswana Journals
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The Early History of the Postal Service in Botswana, 1847 to 1889
Get PDFThe purpose of this article is to summarise the steps taken by early European visitors in Southern Africato communicate with their friends and relatives in their homelands. It should, of course, be borne in mindthat prior to the arrival of Europeans, Africans had their own systems of letter-delivery which operated inconjunction with the delivery of spoken messages between African communities. Within these systems,a central role was played by African rulers, European hunters, and traders. As literacy was adopted bymore Africans, many of them wrote and sent letters themselves, such as letters from African writers (inSetswana) to the editors of mission-published newspapers during 1857-1859 and 1883-1896
Professor Fred Morton, Transboundary Scholarship, Development of Electricity and the Knowledge Economy in Botswana, 1957-2016
Get PDFFocusing on production of electricity in Botswana, this paper is a quest for interdisciplinary researchapproaches on social history based on contributions of Professor Fred Morton to the historiography ofBotswana and Southern Africa. Professor Morton demonstrated interdisciplinarity as unavoidable whenattempting to understand how the past is linked to the contemporary social history of Botswana. Before1957 the development of electricity supply in Botswana was driven by technical information from Lesothoand South Africa. Officials based within Botswana put pressure on their seniors in Mahikeng (colonialBotswana’s administrative headquarters located in South Africa), to develop electricity within Botswanaand increase supply. Mahikeng ignored this demand through a series of advisory technical and controversialconsultancies produced by experts from Lesotho, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Technical informationwas solicited on a regular basis from 1963 when it was decided to transfer the territorial headquarters fora future independent Botswana to Gaborone. Along the development in and around Gaborone, there wasincreased private capital investment and demand for electricity as a barometer of the pace of developmentin the country. This laid a foundation for a strong partnership between private and public capital. Between1979 and 1985 plans were developed so that Botswana would depend on local skills in the energyproduction. The Botswana Energy Master Plan, which was launched in 1985 and revised in 1996 hasremained the main framework for subsequent efforts to increase electricity supply and diversify sources ofenergy between 2016 and 2030
RETHINKING EDUCATION QUALITY: TOWARDS A PROCESS-BASED APPROACH FOR BOTSWANA’S BASIC EDUCATION SYSTEM
Get PDFAttempts to holistically reorient Botswana’s basic education system towards quality hitherto remain a pipe dream. This paper posits a shift in thinking premised on the notion of understanding, managing and improving quality through a process-based approach; a methodology which for purposes of this study deliberately utilizes synergetic versions of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001: 2015 standard, the Management System for Educational Organizations (ISO 21001: 2018) and the Plan-Do-Check-Act model. The paper teases out the logic and potential of implementing the process-approach in Botswana’s basic education system as a response to the globalization of education practices. A national survey purposively tapping into senior secondary school heads’ perceptions was conducted. Relatedly, national inspection reports were reviewed together with literature available. A multivariate approach was applied to deconstruct the entire process matrix of inputs, outputs, processes and outcomes. Furthermore, two tracer studies at varying basic education levels were conducted to appreciate the philosophy of systems thinking with regards educational outputs and outcomes. Results of the study signal the model’s potential to serve the basic education sector with minor modifications relating to compatibility. Education quality is in this hybridized process approach contingent to inputs, processes and outcomes. Outputs are factored in provisionally depending on contextual realities, quality control measures and maturity level of the education system over a continuum. The paper recommends that the process paradigmatic approach must be developed, documented, implemented and maintained for continual quality improvement in basic education
TEACHING AND LEARNING ONLINE DURING THE PANDEMIC: LECTURERS’ PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES
Get PDFThe rapid transition from the traditional method of face to face classroom teaching to remote teaching during COVID-19 pandemic raised unprecedented challenges for lecturers as they were required to integrate digital technologies in learning and teaching. This study explores lecturers’ experiences and perceptions of their competencies to effectively integrate digital technology in learning and teaching during the pandemic. Furthermore, institutional support provided to them in designing, implementing and sustaining online teaching and learning during this era is evaluated. The study employed qualitative research design and collected data from five (5) University of Botswana lecturers using individual in-depth interviews. The findings reveal that although lecturers acknowledged the benefits of using digital technologies for teaching and learning to be important, they lack the digital competencies and skills required for effective integration. Other challenges that are highlighted are inadequate professional development and the institutional support in designing, implementing and sustaining online teaching. Therefore, it is critical that the institution fosters a supportive environment and provides lecturers with the necessary technological and pedagogical skills to effectively integrate digital technology in teaching
EVALUATION OF STRENGTHENING OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE IN SECONDARY EDUCATION (SMASSE) PROGRAM IN BOTSWANA USING THE CIPP MODEL
Get PDFStrengthening of Mathematics and Science in Secondary Education (SMASE) seeks to improve and enhance the quality of performance in teaching and learning of mathematics and science in secondary schools. The SMASE program started in Botswana 2006. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of SMASSE program in Junior Secondary Schools of Botswana. A mixed method research design was used in this study. Data was gathered through interviews, lesson observations and a Self- report student questionnaire. The data was collected in three schools in Gaborone West cluster schools which were randomly selected. A total of 13 teachers and 113 students took part in this. Qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis approaches while quantitative data were analysed using SPSS software. The findings revealed that the SMASSE objective to train all mathematics and science teachers was achieved. The objective to ensure that teachers integrate ASEI/PDSI approach into the teaching and learning of mathematics and science was experiencing challenges mainly from lack of resources, teacher overload, large class sizes, student’s negative attitude and lack of monitoring of the program. The findings also revealed that skills such as observing, hypothesis and concluding were often emphasized during teaching and learning. The findings also revealed that students have reported poor skills in science process skills. The findings revealed that teachers predominantly used chalk and talk method and discussion method as opposed to other students centered methods of teaching. In order to improve performance in mathematics and science, the Ministry of Basic Education, SMASSE team, Mathematics teachers and Science teachers should integrate ASEI/PDSI approaches in the teaching and learning of mathematics and science
Introduction
Get PDFOver the last four and a half decades, Professor Fred Morton has made an immeasurable contribution inpromoting public understanding of Botswana’s past in the context of the wider Southern African region.His impact is manifest in his mentorship and community activism, as well as academic research andpublications. In terms of publications, he has authored, co-authored, and edited ten books and nearly fiftypeer-reviewed articles and book chapters while producing numerous conference and seminar papers
Initiation Success of the Conservation Component of Community-Based Natural Resource Management in the Okavango, Northern Botswana
Get PDFCommunity-Based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) is a bottom-up approach that is widelypracticed in developing countries because of its promise to promote sustainable conservation, empowerment,and generation of economic benefits for local communities. However, there are concerns that the CBNRMcommunities focus more on resource exploitation for short term financial benefits than investing insustainable conservation. This study evaluates the undertaking of the conservation component of CBNRMin Sankuyo and Khwai communities in Okavango, northern Botswana, between 2008 and 2013 followingthe introduction of the national CBNRM policy. It further examines community perceptions on theeffectiveness of the CBNRM programme in facilitating rural development and biodiversity conservation.The study was carried out before the hunting ban of 2014-2019 came into effect. We found that during thefive-year period when the area management plans were in operation, the Sankuyo community initiated 86%(6/7) and Khwai community initiated 71% (5/7) of the conservation projects they had planned to undertakeunder CBNRM. Most of the respondents in the two communities were satisfied with the proportion andimportance of the initiated projects on conservation. The projects were reported to have reduced wildlifepoaching, illegal safaris, and unlicensed harvesting of thatching grass. Despite the high initiation of theconservation projects the respondents, nonetheless, believed that the CBNRM was primarily introduced todrive rural development and generate benefits for the community than for conservation. However, the highinitiation of the conservation projects by Sankuyo and Khwai communities demonstrates their recognitionof conservation as an integral part of the CBNRM that also needs attention for the long-term sustainabilityof the CBNRM
Kazungula Bridge is a Shrine to the Botswana Defence Force
Get PDFThe opening of the Kazunguala Bridge on 10 May 2021 was a major milestone in the development ofinfrastructure for Botswana and Zambia and this also goes a long way to benefit the whole SouthernAfrican region. This bridge has in fact become a gateway to Central Africa. This has been a world classproject (Figure 1) and thanks to the funders and the constructors
Vegetation Blockages and their Influence on the Channel Flow Dynamics in the Okavango River Alluvial Fan, Botswana
Get PDFThe vegetation blockages in the Okavango Delta tributaries have been a concern among the localcommunities, water managers and in tourism industry. The objective of this study is to update historicalvegetation blockages reported in 1970s in the Okavango channels and to assess the blockage influenceson the channel flow dynamics. The blockages were determined by boat in 2002 in three river systemsnamely Ikoga-Thaoge, Nqoga-Maunachira and Mboroga-Gomoti Rivers and further assessed at four-tofive-year intervals until 2018. The collected coordinates using GARMIN GPSMAP 62S at the start and endpoints of the blockages were added to the Okavango Delta feature dataset to ArcMap GIS 10.2 softwareto map and measure the blockage lengths in km. ‘Papyrus’ is the dominant species blocking the channelswhile the ‘hippo grass’ is a fringe vegetation. Five types of blockages were categorised based on theirgrowth and spread in different flood regimes. The hydrological data analysis showed that the ‘Intermittentrooted emergent papyrus’ and ‘Emergent papyrus rafts’ in Thaoge River held large volumes of water in theupstream Qaaxhwa and Weboro Lagoons from 2005 onwards causing some flow diversions to Boro River.The ‘Surface blockage debris’ in the origin of Maunachira River did not have significant influence on itsdownstream flow because of added flows via Khiandiandavhu channel. The Bokoro and Dxerega Lagoonson the blocked Maunachira were reduced in their water surface area by 28.7% and 45.2% respectivelybetween 1984 and 2011. The hippo grass in Mboroga and Gomoti Rivers do not have much impact onchannel flow. It is recommended that efficient management of blockages through the engagement oflocal communities and safari operators in the areas of concern would improve the flow distribution forcommunity resource use and tourism development
