Help to climb up: impacts of modern education among the Gǀui and Gǁana

Abstract

Out of School Education and Training (OSET) launched in New Xade – the largest settlement for San in Botswana – in 2007. It is geared towards training children who dropped out of formal education. The present study aimed to describe the impacts of modern education among the Gǀui and Gǁana by comparing the practice of formal schooling and OSET. We conducted semi-structured interviews with school-aged children who dropped out of formal school, as well as with teachers from both the primary school and OSET. The interviews focused on the lives of school-aged children inside and outside of educational facilities. Children were asked about their reasons for dropping out of primary school, their perspectives on the activities at OSET and their expectations about their futures. Teachers were asked about their educational experiences, their assessments of child education and their expectations about their futures. We found that non-formal education such as OSET can provide opportunities for self-development for children who dropped out of formal education. Further, unemployed youth who had achieved secondary school qualifications found employment at OSET as teachers, thus increasing their self-reliance. Because the present research sheds light on previously unknown issues surrounding the education of Gǀui and Gǁana, it stands to contribute to the improvement of basic education policy in Botswana.