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The Global Skills Report 2024 named Botswana as a standout in Sub-Saharan Africa. While Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest gender gap in online learning at 14%, the report noted that Botswana is the only exception and “bright spot,” adding that the country “ranks high on the continent as initiatives such as SmartBots help close the gap.”
The report comes nearly a year after President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi officially launched the SmartBots Village Connectivity Project as part of the government’s commitment to achieving the digital goals of the RESET agenda. At the launch of the flagship SmartBots Village Connectivity Project, President Masisi said that digital transformation strategies are the best means to narrow the digital divide and turn around the fortunes of the business community.
According to a report by Coursera, a US-based global micro-credential training provider, Botswana is among the top five performing countries on the African continent, ranked in the “Emerging Ranking” category.
The “Emerging Ranking” refers to countries or regions with an average labor force participation rate of 67.8, an average human capital index of 0.57, an average Coursera skill proficiency percentile of 39%, and an average Global Innovation Index score of 30.1. No countries in Sub-Saharan Africa made it to the “Competing Ranking” or “Frontier Ranking”, which are higher than the “Emerging Ranking”, but all are classified as “Lagging Ranking”.
The report points out that in the regional skill proficiency ranking, how learners in various countries perform in the fields of business, technology and data science, Botswana is the best performing country in Africa, with a score of 72% in the business category, 37% in the technology category, and 23% in the data science category. Rwanda ranks second, with a score of 64% in the business category, 24% in the technology category, and 28% in the data science category.
The study, which provides a comprehensive overview of skills and qualifications development at the national, regional and worldwide level, also looked at course preferences across countries, with results showing that Botswana learners chose skills such as leadership, accounting and risk management.
“In Botswana, learners focus on leadership, risk management and accounting skills in preparation for positions such as project managers, IT project managers and operations managers. Despite unemployment challenges, with 25% of the workforce and 33% of young people aged 20-39 unemployed, Botswana has made great strides in providing access to high-speed internet in schools through programmes such as SmartBots and GIGA,” the report states.
GIGA is a joint effort between two United Nations agencies – the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the International Telecommunication Union – with the goal of connecting all the world’s schools to the internet.
While only 13 countries in the region are highlighted, the report claims that increased spending on digital infrastructure will significantly reduce unemployment and promote equitable growth. “With economic growth expected to average 4.5% per year over the next five years, continued investment in digital infrastructure and skills development is key to reducing unemployment,” the report states.
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