Implementation of the technical and vocational education and training curriculum in colleges in Botswana: challenges, strategies and opportunities

ABSTRACT The study sought to establish challenges faced, strategies used as well as opportunities available for the effective implementation of the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) curriculum in colleges in Botswana. Results showed that there are no significant differences in the way curriculum is implemented in public and private TVET colleges. Results further showed that curriculum implementation by TVET lecturers is significantly influenced by the microsystem, mesosystem and exosystem factors and that the implementation is mostly done through the use of lecturer-centered teaching strategies. A number of challenges that affect the effective implementation of the curriculum were identified. Efforts by government to facilitate synergies between TVET colleges and industry hence opening up more sources of funding, and possibilities for skills development and exchange between industry and colleges were opportunities identified that could potentially enhance the implementation of the TVET curriculum. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE STUDY The effective implementation of the TVET curriculum is critical in enabling the development in students of the right knowledge and skill sets that will enable them to be competitive in the labour market. This study therefore contributes to the body of knowledge with regard to how curriculum can be effectively implemented in TVET colleges. With regard to practice, the study is an eye opener in terms of the teaching strategies that need to be used to enhance the implementation of the curriculum in TVET colleges. With regard to policy (on the part of government), the study advises the government to come up with more flexible policies that allow the TVET colleges to implement the curriculum using more flexible models, such as the modification model rather than the fidelity model as is currently obtaining. Also, in terms of future research, researchers could focus on the issue of how synergies between TVET colleges and industry could be successfully established since funding is one of the issues that affect effective implementation of the TVET curricula in TVET colleges.