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Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Ms Nnaniki Makwinja, says the recent Computer Science Education Botswana (CSEdBotswana) Summit has laid the necessary foundation for Botswana’s Reset Agenda and Government Digitization Strategy.

Speaking at the CSEdBotswana Summit at UB Conference Centre on March 30, 2023, Ms Makwinja also noted that the summit laid a foundation for conducting research on social issues with broad impact on innovation and Botswana society in general.

She also highlighted that the summit provided opportunities to prepare students participation in the new economy, partnering with government and industry to effect change for betterment of future generations. She said the summit came at an opportune moment when the tone of language was changing towards the fourth industrial revolution, digitization and e-government.

“Therefore, Botswana must participate in this change and join the e-train to position herself in the cause,” said Ms Makwinja.

The aim of the summit was to develop baseline data in computing education Botswana, Interrogate challenges and potential come up with long term strategies for computing education in Botswana.

University of Botswana Chief Operations Officer, Mr Dawid Katzke, said Computer Science Education was essential as it helped to accelerate the pace for innovation and economic development. He said equipping students with computer science skills would assist them to be creative in addressing societal challenges as well as to allow them to participate in the innovation space.

A Computer Science lecturer, Dr Ethel Tshukudu, noted that the summit supported Botswana government's mission of using digital transformation as an engine for a knowledge-based economy, innovation, and development. She also highlighted that CSEdBotswana created an opportunity to gather and motivate policy makers, government officials, industry, universities, researchers, advocates, teachers and students who wanted to make change towards providing computer science education for all in Botswana.  

Other dignitaries who graced the event included Permanent Secretary Ministry of Communications, Knowledge and Technology, Pontsho Pusoitsile, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and Skills Development, Ms Lois Ngope, Managing Director Diamond Trading Company Botswana, Mr  Sedireng Serumola, Dean Faculty of Education, Professor Lily Mafela, Director of Centre for Computer Science Education University of Glasgow- Professor Quitting Cutt and United States delegation led by Dr Allyson Kennedy of the National Science for International Partners