The Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Hon. Nono Kgafela‑Mokoka, paid a courtesy visit recently to the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), where university leadership and ministry officials discussed collaboration on the rollout of a STEAM‑driven curriculum and other shared priorities.

In welcoming the Minister, Acting Vice‑Chancellor Prof. Elisha Shemang said BIUST is positioned to drive Botswana’s transition to a knowledge‑based economy through innovative teaching and engagement platforms. He highlighted the university’s adoption of problem‑based learning to stimulate students’ critical thinking: under this model students identify real problems and develop practical solutions.

Prof. Shemang noted that, although BIUST is a STEM‑specialized institution, it recognises the need for graduates to possess strong soft skills to succeed in diverse work environments. To that end BIUST has made subjects such as project planning, Chinese language, report writing and business compulsory for all undergraduates to ensure graduates are industry‑ and market‑ready, able to communicate with international partners, create jobs and pursue entrepreneurship.

The Acting Vice‑Chancellor also outlined BIUST’s proactive engagement with pre‑tertiary learners through initiatives that promote interest in STEM and STEAM. These include STEM festivals, National Science Week, the Girls Excelling in Mathematics and Science (GEMS) programme, teacher training in basic computing, space science, mathematics and sciences, and the recent launch of the STEAM Power Lab, a facility available to learners from the Ministry to gain hands‑on exposure to laboratory settings and equipment.

Responding, Hon. Kgafela‑Mokoka welcomed BIUST’s initiatives and commended the university for integrating social sciences and skills development alongside technical subjects, stressing that STEAM curricula must have a “human face.” She said her visit aimed to brief and deliberate with BIUST management on implementation of the upcoming STEAM‑driven curriculum and to identify ways the Ministry and university can collaborate for a successful rollout, particularly on digitalisation and the new child‑welfare component under her portfolio.

The Minister emphasised the importance of training teachers in STEAM so they can effectively facilitate the new curriculum, noting that benchmarking of international models shows STEAM education which adds Arts to STEM and emphasises critical thinking, creativity and collaboration can produce more holistic graduates without discarding existing subjects.

Both parties expressed commitment to strengthen partnerships that will support curriculum implementation, teacher development and learner exposure to practical STEAM experiences as Botswana advances its knowledge‑based development agenda.