The newly appointed Minister of Sports and Arts has declared an urgent priority to reinstate school sports, which have been on hold since 2019. This suspension followed the then Ministry of Basic Education (MOBE) accruing approximately P30 million in unpaid teacher allowances. A memorandum dated March 6, 2020, signed by then-MOBE Permanent Secretary Bridget John, cited budgetary restrictions as the cause for this decision.
“The Ministry has struggled to cover participation fees due to its sports budget being limited to P2 million annually, while the actual yearly cost is about P60 million,” John explained. She further noted that although the Ministry managed to secure funds from its training and feeding allocations to compensate teachers for their involvement in athletics in 2019, an outstanding debt of around P32 million remained for teachers’ participation in ball games that year.
During this period, a School Task Team was established to devise a cost-effective model for managing school sports. Their findings were submitted to the government in December 2022.
In a media interview following this week’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), Minister Kelebeng disclosed plans to collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, the Ministry of Basic Education, and other stakeholders, including teacher unions. Takatokwane constituency lawmaker emphasized the crucial role of unions like BOSETU and BTU, which advocate for the welfare of teachers.
“School sports were suspended during the onset of COVID-19. However, when the suspension was due to be lifted, unions raised concerns with the relevant ministries regarding teacher welfare, particularly for those working beyond regular hours,” stated Kelebeng.
He added that with the new government in place, there would be engagement with necessary stakeholders, as he has been briefed on the advancements made by the Ministry of Sports and Arts. “A budget has already been drafted, and we will review it to determine if it permits the resumption of school sports, which have been inactive for five years now,” he affirmed.
Meanwhile, former Minister of Youth, Gender, Sports, and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare, announced that the government has allocated P55 million to fund the program for the current fiscal year, showcasing a renewed emphasis on cultivating young athletic talent. This announcement was made recently during a lively homecoming ceremony for Botswana’s Olympic athletes at Maun Sports Complex.
Rakgare underscored the significance of the school sports program in Botswana’s overall sports development strategy, acknowledging the nation’s constraints compared to countries with more advanced sports infrastructures.
“As a nation, we lack the same resources as others with world-class facilities and elite coaches. Therefore, we heavily depend on our school sports program to develop athletes. The highest-performing athletes will receive additional support, including intensive training with experienced coaches, to refine their skills and prepare for national and international competitions,” he remarked.
