Author: Eureka Mokibelo
ISBN No: 978-1-920447-50-2
Cost: 45.60
Some decisions and policies that affect Batswana in the education system on the use of languages can jeorpadise the future of students if not properly implemented. This is so with the Botswana Citizenship Act 8 of 1998 14 (e) that states that children could join the education system at either junior or senior secondary level and it is a must for them to do SeTswana subject if they are Batswana. Regarding this, circumstances can present challenging situations that demand accountability and further scrutiny. Firstly, parents who are not originally Batswana may decide to localize while their children are at secondary level. Secondly, some parents who have been married outside may divorce or the other partner could die and the other partner especially the woman, may decide to come back to Botswana. Thirdly, parents go outside Botswana on a foreign mission for years and decide to come back to Botswana with their children joining the education system at secondary level. Fourthly, parents who pass on while their children are at secondary school level at English medium schools and their children have to transfer to Tswana medium schools because the guardians cannot afford to pay or have misused their funds. The abovementioned examples may present unique situations that cannot be overlooked. Hence, it is important to treat such cases differently as they present themselves. This paper recommends that children who have no background of SeTswana from primary and junior secondary school should be exempted because of the unavailability of programmes in SeTswana that cater for such unique situations. Further, it is important to document guidelines that can be followed by everyone involved to avoid disadvantaging the innocent.
ISBN No: 978-1-920447-50-2
Cost: 45.60
Some decisions and policies that affect Batswana in the education system on the use of languages can jeorpadise the future of students if not properly implemented. This is so with the Botswana Citizenship Act 8 of 1998 14 (e) that states that children could join the education system at either junior or senior secondary level and it is a must for them to do SeTswana subject if they are Batswana. Regarding this, circumstances can present challenging situations that demand accountability and further scrutiny. Firstly, parents who are not originally Batswana may decide to localize while their children are at secondary level. Secondly, some parents who have been married outside may divorce or the other partner could die and the other partner especially the woman, may decide to come back to Botswana. Thirdly, parents go outside Botswana on a foreign mission for years and decide to come back to Botswana with their children joining the education system at secondary level. Fourthly, parents who pass on while their children are at secondary school level at English medium schools and their children have to transfer to Tswana medium schools because the guardians cannot afford to pay or have misused their funds. The abovementioned examples may present unique situations that cannot be overlooked. Hence, it is important to treat such cases differently as they present themselves. This paper recommends that children who have no background of SeTswana from primary and junior secondary school should be exempted because of the unavailability of programmes in SeTswana that cater for such unique situations. Further, it is important to document guidelines that can be followed by everyone involved to avoid disadvantaging the innocent.
