STEM pitted at the centre of economic transformation

Govt invests millions of Pula and collaborates with stakeholders on STEM projects Gender mainstreaming in STEM essential

Minister of Tertiary Education Douglas Letsholathebe says encouraging uptake of study and research in fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics ( STEM) is a key priority for the Ministry.

That is because STEM is the driving force in economic diversification efforts amidst plans to transform Botswana into a knowledge- based and innovation- led country. Speaking this week at the opening of the National Science Week and STEM Festival held under the theme, ‘ Fuelling socio- economic transformation through STEM Awareness and Innovation,’ Letsolathebe said Government has collaborated with different stakeholders on different initiatives and even allocated P15 million to be disbursed for different initiatives annually, to drive awareness on STEM and also invest in various innovative projects that could, in the longterm bolster Botswana’s economic prospects and create employment. “STEM is globally recognised as critical to the success and sustainable growth of modern economies and Botswana is aware of this. The government wants to accelerate the growth of this sector in resonance with the 2036 goals. “Also, the biggest and fastest growing economies are those that invest heavily in STEM education. STEM enables the success of key industries and festivals and events in STEM to play an essential role for STEM development through highlighting challenges and opportunities in the STEM fields, given their impact on innovation and socioeconomic progress.” Letsholathebe reiterated the need for more women and girls in STEM. While girls are said to perform well in basic education, research indicates that many of them drop out of STEM studies due to cultural biases that claim that STEM fields are male- dominated fields and due to lack of support. Against this backdrop scientist, Monkgomotsi Maseng spearheaded the Sisterto- sister, an organisation aimed at capacitating, facilitating, and supporting the involvement of women and girls in STEM. Sister- to- sister won the Telescope award from the International Astronomy Union ( July 2021) that will be donated to Machana Satelite Primary school as one way of promoting science in Botswana, and the donation will be handed over later this month. The organisation has also initiated contact with Tlogatloga Junior School in Gaborone. After winning an award in Gender Equity Diversity and Inclusion ( GEDI) by SANTHE to raise awareness in gender equity in science in Botswana, Sister- Sister held its first symposium in May 2021. Maseng, who is a medical laboratory scientist currently working with the School of Allied Health Profession, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana and a research fellow with Botswana Harvard AIDS Partnership Institute, said the mandate of SisterSister is to mentor and support women in STEM and also aspiring female students at elementary, middle, high and tertiary schools.

“Sister- Sister aims to build strong- minded, passionate and confident female scientists and aspiring ones by breaking barriers and stereotypes surrounding females in the Sciences in Botswana. Our aim is to continue visiting schools at primary and secondary schools to promote science and encourage particularly females to pursue science and maths subjects.”