A new study has found that primary-level students in Botswana are performing far below the expected grade standards, and their caregivers are largely unaware of their performance.
In Youth Impact’s 2025 Education Compass study, nearly 2000 Standard 4 students from 60 schools across 3 regions were assessed in their foundational numeracy skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and compared with national expectations. The students’ caregivers were also interviewed to investigate their knowledge on their children’s learning levels. The findings indicated that 9 out of 10 students are performing below grade level expectations. The study also revealed substantial disparities across groups, and found that caregivers were largely uninformed about their children’s learning levels–fewer than 1 in 4 could accurately assess them.
“We strongly recommend the government carries out regular surveys like this to track educational trends overtime and support evidence-based policy making,” said the co-founder of Youth Impact, Moitshepi Matsheng. Other recommendations from the study include incorporating targeted instruction approaches (teaching students at the level they are at, rather than at the level they should be), and improving engagement between schools and caregivers.
About the Education Compass
The Education Compass is an annual report aimed at providing data on students’ foundational skills in Botswana and draws from the organisation’s research capacity developed through conducting rigorous monitoring and evaluation. The annual report also seeks to inform regional and national discussions about learning progress and explore ways to enhance foundational education. This study was carried out with the help and support of the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, including the North West, North East and Kweneng Regional Offices.
About Youth Impact
Youth Impact is a youth-led, evidence-based learning organization in Botswana that scales effective health and education programs across 10+ countries with 350+ staff. Partnering with governments, we enhance cost-effectiveness and impact while informing global policies. Our education initiatives, Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) and ConnectEd, focus on foundational skills. TaRL, integrated into the school day, helps 60% of students gain literacy and numeracy skills in 30 days, while ConnectEd achieves similar results in just three 40-minute remote tutoring sessions. To access the full Education Compass report, visit: www.youth-impact.org. For more information about the study, contact info@youth-impact.org.
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