17 Feb 2025

 Government commits to addressing issues such as inequality, promoting dignity and empowering marginalised communities, Deputy Director of Department of Social Development, Ms Gomolemo Tselakgopo, has said.

By adopting and upholding human rights based approach, she said such was an indication that government was accelerating the attainment of Botswana Vision 2036 of achieving prosperity for all, including the realisation of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The approach, she said ensured that everyone benefited from the similar opportunities, regardless of their origin or geographic location and Rural Area Dweller Programme (RADP) was one of such approach.

She made the remarks when appreciating the recently launched FNBB Foundation RADP Top Achievers scholarship, which she said, would contribute to improved school performance by laying a competitive landscape for learners in remote area communities.

The initiative offers children from extreme remote areas of Botswana a chance to be in a nurturing environment that gives more chances to staying in school perform better and progress to high stages of education.

Ms Tselakgopo acknowledged that the initiative would augment government efforts to unearth gems in the education arena who were otherwise faced with geographical disadvantages they could not overcome.

“FNBB Foundation RADP Top Achievers scholarship is a huge milestone for the ministry as it does not only contribute to individual social development but also has a direct bearing on community development and resilience, as well as sustainable socio economic development,” she added.

Further, the deputy director said that RADP was a high priority programme for government, intentionally designed to ensure no one was left behind. The programme, she said covered 73 settlements spread across 17 districts.

She said RADP gave emphasis to a multi-sectoral approach, channelled to address specific challenges caused by historical cultural practices, inadequate infrastructural development, low levels of education, unemployment, poverty, malnutrition and inadequate availability of social amenities.

Ms Tselakgopo also said government further introduced the RADP Affirmative Action Framework in 2014 to accelerate implementation of the Revised RADP that underscored intensive implementation of programmes aimed at promoting equity and social inclusion in remote area settlements.

Such, she said could only be achieved through collaboration with the private sectors and civil societies.

She said the framework and its plan reflected government’s commitment to social inclusion by bridging development gaps that existed between recognised remote area settlements and the rest of the country.

“Education remains an integral component of RADP as it is key to achieving long term goals of self-reliance and equal opportunities for remote area communities,” she said.

 To date 98.6 per cent of remote area settlements, she said had primary schools, day-care centres and playgroups and cumulative total of 32 759 learners have had access to education services 1 784 of which were in reception classes.

She added that 1 286 were in structured play and stimulation groups, 4 056 in day care centres, 18 307 in primary while 5 819 were in junior secondary schools, 623 in senior schools, 329 in brigades and 555 in tertiary education.

Despite this success, she said that learners from mentioed areas were still faced with low school performance, hence the need for more strategic partnership such as the FNBB.

One of the parents whose child benefited from the scholarship, Mr Xhase Maruping of Dkar appreciated the initiative saying it would bridge the gap between urban and remote children, as they would have equal education opportunities. ENDS