Botswana/OER

by James Kay, Sero

Policies Survey notes:

Botswana appear to be involved in the OER movement through projects such as the OER4OS project and the Virtual University of Small States of the Commonwealth (VUSSC) programme. Other OER projects mentioned are run through donor funding.

The respondent to Policies Survey from Botswana noted in relation to Botswana's motivations for involvement in the OER movement that "OERs will help small countries to reduce their dependence on developed countries’ licensed materials that are overly costly and help them to leap frog in educational expansion and innovation. The OERs present a wonderful opportunity to enhance international collaboration for educational advancement."

Overview

Botswana, in full the Republic of Botswana (Tswana: Lefatshe la Botswana) is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. Citizens of Botswana are called "Batswana" (singular: Motswana), regardless of ethnicity.

Formerly a British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966. It is bordered by South Africa to the south and southeast, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, and Zimbabwe to the northeast.

The country is home to a relatively stable political system and a rapidly developing economy. Being closely tied with the economy of South Africa, the country's economy is one of the most successful in Africa and is dominated by the fast-growing service sector, world-renowned diamond industry, tourism, and manufacturing.

Its population is 1,600,000.

The capital is Gaborone and the country is divided into nine districts.

Further information

For further general information see Wikipedia:Botswana/OER.

Education in Botswana/OER

For a general description of education in Botswana/OER see Education:Botswana/OER.

e-learning

For a description more focussed to e-learning see E-learning:Botswana/OER.

Internet in Botswana/OER

Botswana established the Science and Technology policy in 1998 through which all ICT related developments could be coordinated. The development of a national ICT framework is intended to pave the way to an innovation driven economy. Botswana's first National Information and Communications Technology Policy was approved by Parliament in 2007 [Maitlamo National Policy for ICT Development 2007]. (1)

OER Initiatives in Botswana/OER

National OER initiatives

The Botswana Technology Centre (BOTEC) - This is a research and technology organisation, and initiator of the Kitsong Centres, that was established by the Botswana government in 1979 and operates under the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology. BOTEC supports the national development goals by aligning research, science and technology products and services with the Botswana Vision 2016 ideals and the National Development Plans. With the Kitsong Centres (knowledge centres), BOTEC embarked on a project to develop a computer communication system that enables access to integrated e-mail and online information for rural people in Botswana, with emphasis on the online dissemination of locally generated, user-friendly, relevant information and knowledge resources. The idea is to collect, store and use locally generated information relevant to specific community needs. There are 25 centres throughout the country, which have been made part of the Botswana postal system. Their location makes it possible for the community to access them easily. The post charges ten Pula (P 10.00), which is about US$ 1.00 for one hour’s use of the workstations connected to the Internet. BOTEC decided to give the centres the name "Kitsong Centres" to try and associate them with "acquiring knowledge" for the socio-economic development of rural communities. (1) Interview with Ms Leatile Nthaga, an IT consultant from the Botswana Technology Centre, at http://virtualcampuses.eu/index.php/Botswana

References

1. ReVica/VISCED page on Botswana (http://virtualcampuses.eu/index.php/Botswana)

Reports

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