Programmes

Synopsis

The Bachelor of Educational Leadership and Management (BLME) is an in-service programme offered by the Department of Primary Education (DPE) in the Faculty of Education. It was first offered in 2002 as a response to the Revised National Policy on Education (RNPE) of 1994 that called for the development of school heads as instructional leaders. The programme focused on the identified needs to prepare educational leaders and administrators for educational institutions. It has so far attracted students from many public and private organizations locally, regionally and internationally. Over the years and as a result of recent global developments in the area of educational management, the programme has ventured into new approaches to training school leaders to broaden its scope beyond training leaders and managers primarily for basic education. Specifically, the new approaches bring in educational concepts such as financial management, education data management, education and the law, education leadership for sustainable development.

The BLME programme adopts an outcomes based approach to ensure that learners engage in practical learning experiences in the field of educational leadership and management. In line with this approach, the learning assessment practice is an outcome based, that is, assessing learners’ outputs or end products. The specific aims of the programme are therefore to:

1. Develop the necessary and well-grounded entrepreneurial educational managers and leaders; policy analysts, evaluators and implementers.
2. Develop in candidates,  robust competencies and skills in governance and legal aspects as pertains to education system
3.  Build a sound knowledge base on educational leadership that emphasizes integration of skills, attitudes, and experiential learning through collaborating with stakeholders.
4. Develop professionals who can conduct systematic inquiries in educational settings.
5. Build human resource capacity in education leadership and management for the 21st Century and beyond.

The programme targets primary and secondary school teachers and other clients from educational organizations who wish to train as leaders, managers and administrators in education. The programme is offered within the Recognition of Prior Learning policy of UB. Holders of a teaching certificate or related will enter at level 200; those with a diploma in educational leadership and management or related areas will enter at level 300.

Departmental Special Regulations

General Provision

1. The B Ed Educational Leadership and Management is normally a four-year single major degree programme.  All students are required to take Core Courses, General Education Courses (GEC), Electives and Optional Courses as defined in General Regulation 00.212
2. Progression from semester to semester will be as per General Regulation 00.9.for full time and 00.312 for part-time candidates
3. The normal workload for a full time student shall be as stipulated in General Regulation 00.611 for the part-time will be as per regulation  00.312.
4. The award of the degree shall be as stipulated in General Regulation 00.851. 11.25: At the end of level 200, the students will undergo Internship of four weeks and another 4 weeks at the end of level 300. The Internship is an integral component of educational leadership and management training and it is a requirement for the award of a degree. 

Entry Requirements

1. Bachelor of Education (Educational Leadership and Management) is 4 years:
2. Applicants with a Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management or equivalent shall enter at Level 300 of the degree programme.
3. Applicants with a Diploma in Education or its equivalent shall be admitted into either Level 200 or 300 of the Degree Programme on the basis of accumulated credits in the area of Educational Leadership and Management or related areas. Relevant work experience in an educational setting shall be an added advantage.
4. Holders of a Teaching Certificate plus BGCSE will normally enter at level 100. Reference will be made to the articulation policy of the University of Botswana to determine the possibility of entering at other levels as appropriate.
5. Holders of a Teaching Certificate or its equivalent who do not meet the requirements above but have experience in an educational setting as managers will be admitted into level 100. Applicants seeking admission through this route shall submit recommendation letters and proof of experience in teaching and evidence of prior learning.

Programme Structure

LEVEL 100: Semester 1       (15-18 credits)
LME 100: Introduction to Educational Leadership (3 credits)
COM161E: Communication and Academic literacy Skills 1(3 credits)
ICT 121E: Computer Skills Fundamentals 1(2 credits)
EFF 220: The Historical, Philosophical and Sociological Foundations of Education (3 credits)
EFH 100: Foundations of Counsellingg (3 credits)

Elective Course (3 credits)

LEVEL 100: Semester 2       (15-18 credits)

LME113: Introduction to Educational Management (3 credits)
ICT 122: Computer Skills Fundamentals 2 (2 credits)
COM 162E: Communication and Academic literacy Skills 2 (3 credits)
EFP 100: Introduction to Educational Psychology (3 credits)
EPE 109: Introduction to Education for Sustainable Development (3 credits)

ELECTIVE COURSE (3 credits)

LEVEL 200: Semester 1       (15-18 credits)

LME 209: Human Resource Management in Educational Settings (3 credits)
LME 203: Theories and Practice of Educational Leadership (3 credits)
LAW 131: Introduction to Law (3 credits)
LME 204: Fundamentals of Improved Teaching and Learning (3 credits)

1 ELECTIVE COURSE (3 credits)

LEVEL 200: Semester 2       (15-18 credits)

LME 201: Classroom Management: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
REC 011: Introduction to Records Management (3 credits)
LME 206: Introduction to Educational Planning (3 credits)
LME 308: Managing Education for Sustainable Development (3 credits)

1 Elective Course (3 credits)

Optional courses (Choose One):

MGT 100: Principles of Management                            
EPS 201: Theories and Practice of Values in Education

LME I 200: Internship (8 credits)

LEVEL300: Semester 1        (15-18 credits)

LME 301: Leadership Styles and Organizational Behaviour (3 credits)
LME 303: Strategic Planning and Leadership in Education (3 credits)
LME 307: Quality Assurance for School Improvement (3 credits)
EPE 319: ICT Applications in Schools (3 credits)
ACC 100: Introduction to Accounting (3 credits)

LEVEL300: Semester 2        (15-18 credits)

LME 302: Introduction to Educational Research (3 credits)
LME 306: Instructional Supervision and Monitoring (3 credits)
LME 305: Education Law (3 credits)                                  
LME 310: Educational Data Management (3 credits)

Optional courses (Choose One):

EPE 316: Assessment in Schools (3 credits)
LAW208: Administrative Law (3 credits)    
EPI 334: Curriculum Development in Environmental Education (3 credits)
LME   207: Gender and Educational Leadership (3 credits)

LME I 300: Internship (8 credits)

LEVEL400: Semester 1        (15-18 credits)

LME 400: Professional Development in Education (3 credits)
LME 402: Contemporary Issues in Educational Leadership  
LME 403: Practitioner Research in Education
LME 408: Marketing Education and Public Relations
LME 409: Governance in Education

LEVEL400: Semester 2        (15-18 credits)

LME 406: Educational Policy Analysis, Development and Evaluation Instruction (3 credits)
LME 411: Managing Change & Conflict in Education Instruction (3 credits)
LME 413: Curriculum Planning and Leadership Instruction (3 credits)
LME 412: Financial Planning & Budgeting in Education Instruction (3 credits)
LME414: Governance in Education Instruction (3 credits)