Botswana: The Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe, has said Botswana, like other Member States, is experiencing the existential threat the world is facing from Climate Change.
Speaking during a side meeting at the ongoing 42nd session of the General Conference of UNESCO side meeting with the Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Prof Lidia Brito, the Minister said Botswana would welcome assistance through UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB), the International Hydrological Programme and the International Basic Science Programme. He said the country was ready for any role and assistance offered to them to deal with climate change issues.
Minister also said Botswana hopes to be included in some of the initiatives that will be carried out in the International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024 – 2033), adding that Botswana was grateful for being selected to host the L’Oreal – UNESCO Women in Science Young Talent Sub-Saharian Awards which will be held tomorrow in Kasane. Two of the Laureates are Batswana.
For her part, Professor Brito appreciated the meeting with the Minister and his team, adding that Botswana will be considered for the project adding that this would be more effective with a strong Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) foundation. She said children should be availed at an early age, from as low as primary school for such. She said they can also assist with the STEM curriculum.
Prof Brito further said they are also ready to assist on the issue of Remote Assessment Laboratories for researchers as they realized many countries do not have resources for research laboratories.
This, she added, will give researchers an opportunity to work together from wherever they are, even those in countries without such laboratories, as they would remotely connect to those laboratories in other countries.
Professor Brito for Natural Sciences and his team appreciated meeting the Minister and his delegation. They assured the Minister that they will be assisted accordingly in areas of open science, science Technology and Innovation, STEM, Robotics, Water Management, and Remote Assessment Laboratories.
Minister, in response, said this comes at the right time when the Ministry is reviewing the curriculum. Dr Letsholathebe also expressed his wish for Botswana to be considered among the countries being earmarked for strengthening STEM with emphasis on gender.
The other area of interest was Botswana being assisted to enhance its capacities in Novel Basic Science Engineering and Research in areas that address global challenges in urban and rural settings.
Chairperson of the Botswana National Commission for UNESCO, Kgosi Puso Gaborone, said they were grateful for the advice and the support they have received. He said they would take the advice seriously for the betterment of the National Commission and for it to fulfil and deliver on its mandate.