Botswana Needs Improved Education to Compete

From: 6/22/2009 9:16:18 PM

That isn’t the headline. This is:

Weak Human Resource Is Botswana’s Undoing – World Bank

(read more here)

but it is the embedded message. Africa needs to broadly drive to education access and reform. Many African nations could easily adopt the latest techniques in education as they have no burden of deep labor union entrenchment or old infrastructure.

The article pivots on the following:

The researchers add that higher education and training need to address labour market needs. Together with other high performing African economies such as Mauritius, Namibia and Tunisia, Botswana will benefit from having greater flexibility in the labour market, they say. "However, such flexibility needs to preserve the social contract that helps those countries avoid violence, crime and endemic corruption."

Africa can be poised to change perceptions and lead change, but it needs to invest in education at the lowest level to ensure that individuals and nations have the human capital capabilities required to compete effectively. This is a country-by-country choice, and it is one that needs to include leaders and parents as well. Critical to success is the appreciation for education, and regular feedback that proves the national, and the personal investments, are worthwhile.