The first adult learners' week in Botswana was organized in November 1998 in the capital Gaborone by the Botswana Adult Education Association. The activities during the week included visits to businesses and training institutions, and an exhibition on the state-of-the-art of adult education in Botswana, set up on the occasion of the visit of UNESCO's Director-General which coincided with the week. About 200 learners participated in the activities.
Following November 1998, adult learners' week has taken place in Botswana every year. In September 2000, the Department of Non-Formal Education assumed the leading role for adult learners' week and organized it, in cooperation with Adult Education Association, in two locations outside of the capital city: in an industrial town in the north-central part of the country and in a remote small town on the western edge of the Kalahari.
The fourth week was implemented on 17 - 21 September 2001, mainly in the central region of Botswana (Mahalapye). Activities were set up according to what the learners themselves had expressed as their needs and wishes to learn. Several organizations offered study visits and information sessions to provide insights into how banks, railway stations or meteorological services function. Opportunities to learn about computer labs and the rehabilitative aspect of prison education as well as the activities of general education centres and the National Library Service were organized. Two Ministries arranged events on two highly meaningful issues: the Department of Consumer Education (Ministry of Education) set up a panel discussion on AIDS, and the Ministry of Commerce presented a new financial scheme aimed at assisting citizens in starting their own business.
Contact:
Nnagolo Tau
Department of Non-Formal Education
Ministry of Education
Private Bag 0043
Gaborone
Botswana
tel +267-36-56-300
fax +267-31-31-99
nltau@gov.bw