The Development of Distance Education in Botswana

Overview & Synopsis

Botswana is a landlocked semi-arid country sharing boundaries with Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Setswana and English are the official languages, with English being the most used as the language of government and business transactions. In comparison to most African countries, Botswana is culturally homogenous, and nearly 80% of the population belongs to one ethnic and linguistic group. For close to 4 decades since independence in 1966, Botswana has maintained a stable democracy, experienced a stable government, and a steadily expanding economy. This has contributed to a steady growth in the education system. In Botswana, education and training are regarded as two of the most critical pillars of development. Distance education has become a very important alternative for the provision of opportunities for people to continue learning while they go on with their normal workloads and family or community responsibilities. With high demand for education and training that surpasses any expansion of the face-to-face provision, and limited resource capacity, distance education has become one of the most viable options to open up access and opportunities for continued learning. The mode has proved itself to be working, provided it is given the necessary political support and financial commitment. This article outlines the history of educational development in Botswana, the challenges of the education system, and the development of distance education in Botswana. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)