Return of School Sports still uncertain
The return of school sports has no confirmed timeline. Despite their eagerness to restart activities soon, the Ministry of Sports and Arts emphasizes the importance of reaching comprehensive agreements before moving forward.
In an interview with this publication this week, Nancy Neo Chengeta, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Sports and Arts (MOSA), emphasized that efforts are underway to bring back school sports. However, the process has been delayed as the ministry seeks to establish a sustainable structure. Chengeta noted that they are currently in discussions with various stakeholders, including different ministries, unions, and associations, to ensure that no stone is left unturned in their approach.
The ministry is committed to creating a robust framework that will support the long-term viability of school sports. Chengeta further clarified that the government's mission regarding school sports is unequivocal: they aim to reinstate these programs without failure. The focus is on developing a format that will prevent future disruptions and closures of school sports. By prioritizing sustainability and collaboration with all relevant parties, the ministry hopes to create an environment where school sports can thrive and benefit students for years to come.
“At this moment, we cannot definitively state that school sports will resume during this period, as negotiations with various stakeholders are still ongoing. Initially, our plan was to have activities back by the beginning of the second term; however, that timeline has not materialized. We are committed to pushing forward with our discussions, as we believe that a return to school sports is achievable through these negotiations.
The positive aspect is that all stakeholders involved are aligned with the government's vision, which bodes well for the future of school sports,” she said. Chengeta went on to say: “We are in the process of finalizing arrangements in a manner that ensures everything is done correctly. Our primary goal is to establish a framework that will prevent any future interruptions to school sports. We want to avoid a situation where, due to oversight or rushed decisions, school sports are halted again.
By taking the necessary time to get it right now, we aim to create a sustainable environment that supports the growth and continuity of school sports for students in the years to come.” Furthermore, she highlighted that they are still working on the model that will be used for school sports.
She stated that it has not been finalized yet because the mission is to develop a model that will sustain school sports and be more comprehensive and improved to further enhance sports in Botswana. She mentioned that, at this time, they are hopeful that if negotiations proceed as planned, they can bring back school sports as soon as they are completed. They have been targeting the school terms for resumption, and are now left with the third term, however, they cannot confirm that it will be back then or before it resumes, as negotiations with all stakeholders are still ongoing.