In at least 55 countries worldwide, from, India to Canada, Russia to New Zealand, and Egypt to South Africa, Community, Schools are being developed. The International Centre of Excellence for Community Schools (ICECS) is a new non-government organization (NGO) established with funding from C. S. Mott Foundation, which is developing actual and…

A 'Sustainability Commons' is a place to try out sustainable living (Taylor & Westerman, 2013). It is also a place that anyone can visit and experiment with low-carbon technologies, which are usually very simple and inexpensive, and are being used locally for the benefit of the community and the environment. This article reflects on the…

Lesson study (LS) is a form of professional development, with a strong foundation in mathematics education, based on teachers collaborating to design lessons. This collaboration, however, can be challenging for isolated teachers. In 2017, a course was presented at the university to train 52 teachers from all over South Africa as well as Botswana…

The UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) has launched a new publication, "Integrated Approaches to Literacy and Skills Development: Examples of Best Practice in Adult Learning Programmes." This new compilation showcases 21 adult education programmes that demonstrate promising approaches to integrating literacy, life skills and…

This position paper explores the nature of community involvement in education, focusing particularly on Botswana schools. The exploration was made against a decision taken by the Ministry of Education to end the partnership venture established in the 1980s between itself and the local communities in the running of the junior secondary school. The…

This collection of three articles represents the "Points and Practices" section of this month's issue of "Research in Drama Education." The first article, "'Fitting the Bill' for 'Helping Them.' A Response to 'Integrated Popular Theatre Approach in Africa' and 'Commissioned Theatre Projects on Human Rights in…

Examines the KASHA project in Botswana to illustrate the characteristics of sustainable development as manifested in localized contexts and situations. Suggests the need to document, share, describe, and discuss successful programs like KASHA. (MDH)

Popular theatre that speaks to the common man in his own language and deals with directly relevant problems can be an effective adult education tool in the process Paulo Freire calls conscientization--a process aiming to radically transform social reality and improve people's lives. It can also serve as a medium for participatory research. Popular…

This paper describes two programs in Botswana and Zimbabwe in which manual work forms an integral part of the educational program. It analyzes their objectives and structure and discusses constraints against the background of socioeconomic change in the two countries. Differences are identified and discussed. The first two sections deal separately…

The use of popular theatre to overcome community development problems in underdeveloped countries through adult education is introduced and its relationship to the concept of participatory research is explored. Material is arranged in four sections. The first of these presents an introduction to popular theatre and participatory research. Stemming…

Civic service, which refers to activities that seek to improve the local, national or international community either through community service or service learning, is widespread in secondary schools around the world. Despite this pervasive presence, there are few studies that approach the subject from a cross-comparison perspective. This article…

Evaluation of a project in which Botswanan extension agents used participatory rural appraisal showed that agents can develop attitudes for adopting more participatory approaches, but they are hindered by institutional and contextual constraints, such as government bureaucracy and the political economy. (SK)

Opened in 1963, the Swaneng Hill School in Serowe, Botswana, was an experiment for its untrained founders whose objectives were to reduce the exclusiveness of secondary education, equip students with skills and knowledge needed for development, make the school a focal point for community development, and instill a sense of social justice in the…

This report summarizes the national service programs and proposals discussed at the first global conference on national service held in June of 1992. Current programs include those in France and Germany where civilian service may be performed as an alternative to mandatory military service. In Nigeria university graduates perform a year of…

Explains why conflict resolution is utilized in junior secondary schools in Botswana and discusses the role of the kgotla as a location for resolving problems in a community. Reviews methods for teaching conflict resolution presenting a scenario that enables the teacher and students to resolve a conflict in a social studies classroom. (CMK)