Thato Chwaane
11 April 2008
Gaborone — After a concern with the quality of learning and learner attitudes in schools were observed to be declining, the Ministry of Education and Skills Development has come up with an Emotional Intelligence Training Programme.
Minister Jacob Nkate said yesterday, at the launch of the programme, that the training builds hope in a country be-devilled by social ills such as passion killings, violence, and vandalism at schools and property by students that Botswana is heading for a moral and tolerant society.
He said after observing the decline and an analysis made, they decided that there was a need to leverage the Human Support Services and the programme was conceived. Nkate said the launch could not have come at a better time as there are many challenges of violence among the youth and in the family as well as a high rate of crime.
The ministry has so far trained 1,203 teachers and school heads in pilot regions of western and southern regions of Botswana, including 145 education officers and support staff.
This is in addition to the initial 99 teachers, education officers and directors who were trained in Emotional Intelligence at UNISA in Pretoria in March 2006.
Nkate said that Emotional Intelligence is meant to impart life-long skills that will enable people to continue being functional and productive throughout their lives.
He said people who have gone through such training have increased abilities of practising positive interactive skills that enhance mutually satisfying relationships with self and others. Emotional Intelligence has been included in the National Development Plan X(NDP 10).
Giving a testimony, a teacher from the Kgatleng District, Gomotsang Phillimon, said he has become a changed person since going through the programme. "I used to be arrogant, self-centred and respected no-one's emotions except mine," he said.
Another teacher, Lokwalo Thobega, said she was an unforgiving person and was easily irritated and drove away many people she loved. She said it was after the training that she learnt about forgiveness and more about herself; she became closer to the people she loves.
The MoE's Deputy Permanent Secretary, Archie Makgothi, said due to urbanisation, parents have moved away from the extended family and children are left unattended to, hence there are issues of discipline.
He said teachers are expected to teach and also do things they are not trained for, such as social work, which ends up causing anxiety and stress.
Makgothi said the emotional intelligence programme will empower them to be more balanced and sensitive and to become better people willing to help their charges.
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