High-level education panel calls for evidence-based reform to strengthen foundational learning in Botswana

Youth Impact in partnership with the British High Commission in Botswana, What Works Hub for Global Education (WWHGE), World Bank Education, UNICEF Botswana, and the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, co-hosted a high-level panel discussion titled “Advancing Towards Outcomes-Based Education: Evidence from Botswana”. 

Held on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, the event brought together senior government leaders, development partners, and education experts to explore how evidence can drive more effective, outcomes-based approaches to improve foundational learning across Botswana. H.E. Giles Enticknap, British High Commissioner to Botswana, opened the discussion by highlighting the importance of partnerships in the education sector, stating,

Honourable Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Hon. Nono Kgafela-Mokoka

Guest mingling after panel discussion

Representatives from Government of Botswana, British High Commission, Youth Impact, UNICEF & World Bank

“Education is not about having the right answers, but about nurturing the courage to keep asking difficult questions and to have the curiosity to shape your own future.”

Delivering the keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Hon. Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, reflected on Botswana’s evolving education landscape. She described the philosophy behind outcomes-based education and introduced the Ministry’s renewed focus on a STEAM-driven, skills-based model to better prepare learners for the future.

The panel discussion, moderated by Tendekai Mukoyi Nkwane (Youth Impact), featured:

• Liang Wang, Resident Representative, World Bank Botswana

• Kimanzi Muthengi, Acting Country Representative, UNICEF Botswana

• Moitshepi Matsheng, Co-founder, Youth Impact

• Veronica Mochotlhi, Regional Director, Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education (Kgatleng)

• Labane Mokgosi, Regional Director, Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education (North East)

Panelists shared experiences, research and strategies on how data and evidence can be better integrated into national education systems to drive effective reform. Discussions also highlighted the role of regional leadership and community-level implementation in scaling what works. The event concluded with an audience Q&A session focused on actionable steps to accelerate foundational learning reforms in Botswana.

Closing the event, Noam Angrist, Co-founder of Youth Impact and Academic Director of the What Works Hub for Global Education, remarked,

“The shift from moving from schooling to learning has been gaining momentum. Botswana has done so well on access to schooling, but the learning crisis is really persistent. However, change is possible.”

He supported this with national data from last year from 50,000 students showing an increase in students that can perform 2-digit division; 20% to over 50%, within a single school term for those taking part in the TaRL program. 

Youth Impact, along with its partners, extends gratitude to all attendees for their valuable contributions and reaffirms its commitment to working with government and stakeholders to improve education outcomes through scalable, evidence-based approaches.