Education Minister launches Botswana learning passport

The Minister of Education and Skills Development, Botswana, Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe, has hailed the Learning Passport as an innovative digital learning platform that will enable high-quality, flexible learning.

Speaking at the launch of the Learning Passport, he said the platform will ensure continuity of education for all children irrespective of where they are. The platform offers a wide range of interactive learning materials. He added that the provision of laptops to all senior secondary students has made it possible for students to access the Learning Passport. Minister Letsholathebe expressed his ministry`s challenge in ensuring equitable access to education, particularly with regards to the use of ICT as a platform for learning. He noted that these challenges are more pronounced in remote areas where there is limited electricity.

For her part, UNICEF Representative, Dr. Joan Matji, highlighted that the learning passport will help bridge digital divide, ensuring equal learning opportunities for all children, irrespective of their geographical location or socioeconomic background. Currently, more than 394, 000 senior school students, along with over 4, 500 teachers in Botswana have access to devices and will enjoy unlimited access to this platform. This innovative platform underscores the Ministry`s commitment to addressing educational disparities and promoting lifelong, inclusive learning. Dr. Matji acknowledged the need for an offline version of the Botswana Learning Passport, saying it would ensure that all children even those in the most remote areas can benefit from this platform. She revealed that UNICEF is developing a mobile app version which will soon be available on the Google Play store.

One of the students, Rose Morewagae, from Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School - where the Learning Passport launch was held, excitedly expressed how the platform will help them study at their own pace and it will help them improve their learning as it provides immediate feedback.

The Botswana Learning Passport is an educational platform that aims to enhance learning opportunities and improve educational outcomes across the nation by leveraging technology to make quality education more accessible. It is designed to provide accessible learning resources to all students regardless of their location or socio-economic background.