Reforming work-based learning in Botswana

The Situation

The National Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) is the Workforce Development and Planning agency for Botswana. They are responsible for the development of national apprenticeship training and student internship policy and plans, as well as the management of the Botswana Human Resource Development Fund. 

Botswana faces several challenges as a higher-middle-income country with a young population. Creating a workforce with the abilities to compete in a knowledge-based, globalised environment and creating an educational system that can meet the expanding educational needs of the country's children are two of these issues.  HRDC and Botswana started tackling this issue by assisting the nation in making the shift from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.

Our Role

With expertise in labour market research, workforce development planning and programme policy, our consultants were commissioned to develop policy and guidelines for a reformed work-based learning system within Botswana.

In reviewing the current situation, it was apparent that the existing Apprenticeship Training scheme had become less relevant over time. This had occurred even though there was still strong demand from the mining, engineering, construction, and other industries, with a number of shadow apprenticeship schemes still taking place in these sectors. And at the same time, there was also a clear demand for modern apprenticeships in industries such as Tourism and Hospitality, and Catering.

Given that there was still continued demand for Apprenticeship Training, we believed that a focus on building more resources into the programmes and, at the same time, putting in place stronger coordination systems would revitalise the programmes.

Our Approach

We took the following approach to the project.

1. Develop an inception report, focussed on localising and developing an effective project plan.

2. Undertake a research-based situational analysis to establish the evidence base for the development of policy around Work-based Learning.

3. Develop a detailed policy statement for Work-based Learning in Botswana.

4. Shape a framework of apprenticeship Training and Student internship for Botswana

5. Create an implementation plan with an integrated monitoring and evaluation framework.

The Outcomes Achieved

The situational analysis formed the base of evidence for the project and was built around a comprehensive research process that included an extensive literature review and focus groups.  The latter were run by national consultants with a design and training provided by us. This, alongside policy statements which were tested with stakeholder focus groups, allowed us to identify the following policy objectives:

1. Improve the participation of youth and vulnerable groups in national Work-based Learning programmes.

2. Develop high-quality work-based qualifications, programmes and delivery arrangements.

3. Build Work-based Learning governance arrangements which would provide for the collaborative development of coherent and integrated Work-based Learning policy across government and the primary stakeholders.

4. Develop more effective Work-based Learning management and coordination arrangements.

5. Develop Education Training Provider’s capacity and ability to deliver high-quality Work-based Learning.

6. Develop a more effective funding system for Apprenticeship Training and Student Internships, which would in turn provide the appropriate incentives to participation and performance in the Work-based Learning system.

The policy objectives were then developed into a draft national policy document which was presented in a range of regional workshops with national and local stakeholders. The national policy was approved by the board of the HRDC as the foundation document for the newly established National TVET Coordination Committee - a cross government and industry body designed to drive change across the sector. From the policy, a programme logic and implementation framework and guidelines were developed.  This included key metrics, project activities and timelines required to implement effective work-based learning in Botswana.