02/10/2025
Are we doing enough to recognize all forms of basic education in Botswana?
In Botswana, many private learning centres and even homeschooling pioneers like Dawn Bell, the first professional homeschool since 2013 operate in a legal grey zone. Our Education Act emphasizes registered schools but leaves little room for alternative models that parents are increasingly seeking.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, the law is clearer: independent schools are registered provincially, and home education is formally recognized under the South African Schools Act. This doesn’t eliminate challenges, but it legitimizes innovation. Schools like Curro, Spark Schools, and Reddam House, as well as recognized homeschooling associations, thrive within a legal framework.
It’s time Botswana updated its laws to reflect today’s realities. Families and institutions should not be left in uncertainty; they deserve recognition, support, and regulation that both safeguards quality and embraces innovation.
Education is changing. Shouldn’t our laws change with it?
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