Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana National Archives and Records Services (BNARS) finds it highly important to engage its stakeholders to ensure inclusiveness and wide understanding of the importance of records management.
This was stated by Francistown Chief Education Officer, Mr Boy Olekantse, when delivering keynote address at the BNARS Administration Sensitisation workshop organised for Francistown schools in Francistown on Monday.
Mr Olekantse said BNARS carried an important mandate of ensuring proper records management, as well as collection, presentation, preservation of national documentary heritage and making it accessible to the public.
He said through these workshops, participants can learn proper records management as well as the role of archives as a primary source of information for both educators and learners.
Mr Olekantse said it was important for schools to attend such programmes so that they can be able to create proper records in schools.
The Principal Records Manager, Ms Kabelo Gabalebatse said the main function of BNARS was the collection, preservation and facilitation of access to the nation’s documentary heritage.
She explained that BNARS also provided direction in the management of government records by developing standards, procedures and providing professional advice and guidance. Ms Gabalebatse said the ongoing sensitisation aimed to impact knowledge on how to classify record for easy identification and reference.
She said BNARS wished to expose participants to the role of record management and the responsibility of stakeholders in keeping records.
When responding to the presentations, School Head for Montsamaisa Junior Secondary School, Mr George Mbeha, said for records to be properly kept there should be designed space to cater for privacy and confidentiality issues rather than records rooms sharing same space as offices that are frequently visited by staff.
He suggested that offices with over the counter space should be used to protect the privacy of records. School Head of Lekgaba Hill Primary School, Mr Shadrack Jani, applauded BNARS for protecting records.
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