International Journal of Learning and Teaching Vol. 4, No. 1, March 2018 Factors Shaping Higher Education in Botswana: A Recipe for Policy Formulation and Implementation? Mbiganyi Moremi Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) Department of Technical Writing and Academic Literacy (TWAL) Palapye, Botswana Email: [email protected] Abstract—The paper explores factors shaping higher developed’ [1]. As [2] sums it, in a knowledge based education in Botswana and whether these factors are a economy, information and knowledge creates economic testing ground for policy formulation and implementation. value. This new era called for major transformation on The research was guided by key objectives that focused on the way society or countries structured, delivered and some factors that shape higher education in Africa and assessed their education models. There was a need to Botswana. These objectives culminated in the researcher look at factors and trends shaping higher education as it using two futures thinking methodologies. That is, the was the last stage towards the world of work. The Delphi Real-Time Questionnaire (DRTQ) and the Futures question was, is higher education relevant in producing Wheel (FW). In the DRTQ experts on higher education in graduates who are needed by the country’s economy? Botswana gave their expert opinions on factors shaping higher education in the country. They were drawn from European countries set the ball rolling by embarking on various tertiary institutions in the country like Universities, analysing factors shaping higher education in their College of Education and Technical Colleges. These experts countries. The aim of this research is to investigate also completed the FW where they brainstormed on the factors and trends shaping higher education in Botswana. primary and secondary impact of trends in higher Does the future of higher education look bright or bleak education in Botswana. The experts believe the government in Botswana? The research also focuses on how higher of Botswana prioritises higher education as reflected by a education policy formulation and implementation in the huge budget allocation to the sector and the development of country is affected by these factors. the Education and Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP) to focus on issues affecting higher education among others. II. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES Feedback from the Futures Wheel identified 6 trends that have primary impact on higher education in Botswana. The The research intends to: secondary impacts, which were drawn from the primary a) Find out key factors shaping higher education in impacts, captured the following according to the experts; Africa and Botswana. maintenance of higher education standards, relevant b) Analyse trends driving higher education in targeted education, improved service delivery, higher world Botswana. rankings, knowledge society creation, increased global c) Assess higher education policy implications on participation and globally competitive graduates. Botswana’s knowledge society aspirations. Index Terms—knowledge age, innovation, futures wheel, III. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK ICT, coherence, factors, higher education In Africa, governments have made higher education a priority in their development agenda. Higher education is I. INTRODUCTION seen as an engine of human resource development and the African Union has highlighted this in its Agenda The 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century 2063 continental development framework. The marked the end of the industrial age. This also marked framework proposes eight ideals that serve as pillars for the beginning of the knowledge age. Countries whose the continent development in the future. One of the economies were driven by mineral resources began to pillars emphasises the need for Africa to have, ‘well focus on education as a means to sustain their economic educated citizens and skills revolution underpinned by development. Knowledge and ideas became the science, technology and innovation for knowledge cornerstone of their social and economic advancement. In society… [3]. other words, ‘knowledge and ideas became the main source of economic growth and new patterns of work IV. LITERATURE REVIEW In March 2015, the first African Higher Education Manuscript received May 13, 2017; revised September 17, 2017. Summit was held in Dakar, Senegal, whose theme was © 2018 International Journal of Learning and Teaching 64 doi: 10.18178/ijlt.4.1.64-69 International Journal of Learning and Teaching Vol. 4, No. 1, March 2018 ‘revitalising higher education for Africa’s future’. The teaching and research back in their home countries by summit came up with a declaration and action plan which, forming research collaboration teams and creating among others, identified some of the following priority academic networks to remain relevant on the direction areas: investment in academic staff, infrastructure and higher education is taking in Africa. On the other hand, facilities by governments and private sector, enrolment Africa’s inability to retain talented staff because of lack ration of 50% by 2063, develop higher education that of adequate financial incentives and better working accommodate older learners and provision of robust life- conditions means continuous need to train staff which long learning. The above framework and the summit are comes at a high cost. some of the activities that Africa took to propel higher Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is education as a driver of social and economic also one of the factors that influence higher education in development. Africa. [7] states that ICTs benefits include expanding Higher education in Africa is also affected by global access, reducing costs and providing access to a wide events. According to [4] social pressures and labour range of educational resources electronically to markets requirements have forced universities to re-think supplement face-to-face delivery. In order to improve on their study programmes. ‘The main pressure being put higher education, many African countries have adopted on universities in Africa today include rapid expansion in robust ICT policies and implementation plans to reap the student enrolments despite dwindling financial provision’ benefits of producing graduates who are computer literate. [4]. Policy makers and implementers in higher Despite these thoughtful ICT in education policies, institutions of learning believe enrolling more students Africa still face challenges related to their will bring the much needed revenue for their implementation and effectiveness. sustainability. ‘Recent graduates of universities There are a number of factors that have a bearing on throughout Africa, surveyed in 2006, described higher education in Botswana. These are but not limited exploding demand for higher education in most African to research studies and reports on the state of higher countries…’ [5]. Although this has opened higher education in the country. The government of Botswana education opportunities to majority of the students but has made education a priority in its development agenda. the quality of education has been negatively affected due The Ministry of Education and Skills Development to the high student-lecturer ratio in lecture rooms. (MoESD) was allocated BWP 10.64 billion or 28.8% of The other factor and trend affecting higher education the total budget for the 2016/2017 financial year [8]. This in Africa is funding. Enrolment in Sub-Saharan Africa, clearly shows government commitment to address issues for example, has grown faster than financial support for of quality education and skills mismatch by channelling higher institutions of learning and this has led to shortage resources to the education sector. The allocated funds of resources, both human and physical, and ultimately the cater among others, implementation of the Education and decline in the quality of education. However, [6] states Training Sector Strategic Plan (ETSSP), post-Secondary that, ‘one of the countries which has invested in higher bursaries and maintenance of institutions facilities. The education massively in the last decade is Ethiopia. ETSSP is a five year plan (2015-2020) which spells out a Between 2005/06 and 2009/10, the average higher clear guidance on how Botswana can improve the education sector performance. It ‘identifies eleven (11) education budget in Ethiopia was 24% of the education key strategic priorities linked to the policy goals and is budget. Other countries like Kenya and Uganda, funding supported by eleven (11) programmes that together for higher education has been declining’. These provide a comprehensive, integrated strategy for the fluctuations in budget allocations for higher education sector, emphasising the alignment within all education across African countries bring problems of planning and interventions and skills and labour force and employment implementation of policies. African governments see the needs’ [9]. need to ensure sustainability of higher education funding. Prior to ETSSP, the Botswana government formulated They came up with some of the following measures to the Tertiary Education Policy. According to [10] the mitigate against the negative effects of higher education Tertiary Education Policy-Towards a Knowledge funding. That is, growth in private higher education Society- was passed by Parliament in April 2008 and had provision, cost-sharing measures, student loans and clearly defined goals and outcomes. It