Africa-Press – Botswana. The Ministry of Education and Skills Development has been allocated the largest share of the 2024/25 proposed recurrent budget, amounting to 15.5 billion (fifteen billion, five hundred and forty million pula,) which is 24.4per cent of the total budget, according to the Minister of Finance, Ms Peggy Serame.
In her budget speech yesterday Ms Serame mentioned that the proposed budget increase was aimed at covering various aspects such as food and books for children enrolled in public schools, salaries, benefits, and operating expenses for teachers and operational costs for institutions like the Institute of Health Sciences and Brigades.
Additionally, there’s a provision for costs related to the Botswana Examination Council, medical examinations for students, and maintenance of fire-fighting equipment at schools.
The minister said the proposed budget will be utilised to ensure delivery of quality curriculum development needed to enhance the knowledge and capability skills of learners.
The second largest share of the proposed ministerial recurrent budget is allocated to the Ministry of Defence and Security, totaling P10.6 billion P10.65 billion, representing an increase of 8.4per cent over the current year’s approved budget.
This allocation will primarily cover operational costs for security agencies such as the Botswana Defence Force(BDF), Botswana Police Service, and Botswana Prisons Service, she said
Furthermore, she said the budget aimed to support the newly established Drug Enforcement Agency to combat drug usage, create new positions at Botswana Police, and support BDF’s operations in Mozambique under the Southern African Development Community mission.
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