The British Council has announced plans to invite UK colleges to collaborate with the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) to develop a curriculum focused on green solar energy.
The British Council stated that the Botswana Power Corporation (BPC), through its in-house training center, has a mandate to upskill BPC employees, contractors, and the local community in technical skills.
The British Council indicates that the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector, with a particular emphasis on greening TVET, has recently become a priority for the organisation in Botswana.
Over the past two years, the British Council says “We have engaged with the following sector organisations in Botswana to advance government priorities in skills development and Renewable Energy: Ministry of Education Skills and Development, Human Resource Development Council, Botswana Power Corporation and Botswana Solar Association.”
It says skills development is a national priority in Botswana, not only as an enabler of economic growth, but also to address key issues around high unemployment and the skills shortages that the country is facing.
“Coupled with this, rapidly changing technologies are putting increased pressure on vocational education and training institutions to transform from traditional teaching and learning to more innovative methods that will keep them relevant and responsive to economic growth areas such as the energy sector (Solar Energy),” it says. The British Council notes that Botswana has an abundance of resources and receives sunshine throughout the year, making it suitable for solar energy generation.
“The use of solar home systems in isolated areas is being encouraged, and there have been pilot projects to assess the viability and sustainability of solar energy technology in rural communities. By implementing policies, regulations, and frameworks to support solar generation, Botswana can reduce its reliance on electricity import and coal production and improve the livelihood of its people and businesses,” says the British Council.
It says the industry has also raised a growing demand for enhanced green training and education programmes, especially around solar energy adoption for residential and agricultural applications such as homes and boreholes.
In response to the above, the Government of Botswana (GoB), through Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) has committed to partner with the British Council on an International Skills Partnership which will focus on supporting the BPC with the development of a Green Solar Energy curriculum.
The British Council says the beneficiaries of the courses adopting the new curriculum will include BPC employees in charge of testing and certifying solar installations, Solar Entrepreneurs seeking recognition in the industry, aspiring apprentices or change-makers in the solar energy industry as well as solar installers and technical college students.
The partnership will focus on curriculum development for one or more of the following potential courses; solar energy systems installation certification (including grid-tie systems) – block release (weekends only – 12 weeks) – class-based, solar energy projects management (2 weeks) – online delivery as well as solar Energy Apprenticeship program (weekends only – 12 weeks) – class based element. It says this will be the first solar energy curriculum to be developed by the BPC training centre. The partnership will be supported by the British Council UK Skills team and the British Council’s Botswana country office.
