Teach First Botswana
Where Education Meets
Leadership
Two-year fellowship for top graduates to teach equity-driven STEM in Botswana's junior secondary schools.
Explore the FellowshipAbout us
Teaching in and beyond the classroom
Our Mission
Cultivate equity-driven leaders who strengthen academic outcomes and advance inclusive education across Botswana's underserved communities.
Our Vision
Every learner, regardless of background, develops holistically and transitions into meaningful pathways beyond school.
Why we exist
Too many learners are left behind - we're here to change that
The statistics tell a story of unrealised potential across Botswana's junior secondary system.
JCE Pass Rate
Only 39% achieve Grade C or better
School Transition
27% do not continue to senior secondary
Core Subjects Credit Pass
Under 30% credit pass in all three subjects
Learner engagement is further challenged by absenteeism, low motivation, substance abuse, and identity-related issues. And following Botswana's 2025 abolition of corporal punishment, a "discipline gap" has emerged: teachers lack the training and structures to replace punitive discipline with positive alternatives.
Teach First Botswana exists to close this structural gap - strengthening instructional capacity, building learner engagement, and developing ethical, values-driven leaders committed to long-term systemic change.
Core values
The principles that guide our work
Six commitments that shape every Fellow, every classroom, every relationship.
Botho
"I am because we are."
Human dignity is non-negotiable. The work has meaning only in relation to the people we serve.
Integrity
"Do the right thing, especially when no one is watching."
Honesty with communities, funders, partners, and learners — owning mistakes without deflection.
Communication
"Say it clearly, say it early, say it honestly."
Proactive, transparent communication with all stakeholders — no surprises.
Sense of Possibility
"Every learner, every situation, holds potential."
Unreserved belief in the potential of every person and community we serve.
Resourcefulness
"Work with what is here, not what is missing."
Finding solutions within constraints rather than waiting for perfect conditions.
Solution Orientation
"Name the problem; then move."
Taking problems seriously without being paralysed by them.
Our objectives
Five commitments, one mission
-
Strengthen academic outcomes in Mathematics, English, and Science at the Junior Secondary level.
-
Reduce transition loss at the JCE stage - supporting learners into senior secondary, TVET, entrepreneurship, or employment.
-
Build a two-year Fellowship pipeline of ethical, equity-driven education leaders.
-
Develop student leadership and socio-emotional skills - identity, emotional intelligence, decision-making.
-
Engage parents and communities as active partners in learner support.
Our programme
The Teach First Botswana Fellowship
A two-year, full-time leadership development programme that places exceptional graduates and young professionals in classrooms that need them most.
What it is
Fellows are recruited from high-potential graduates and young professionals, then placed in public junior secondary schools and low-cost private schools to work alongside existing teachers.
Goals
Improve immediate learner academic and behavioural outcomes. Build leadership capacity for long-term, system-level change. Strengthen foundational competencies in Maths, English & Science.
Who it serves
This initiative will serve Junior secondary learners (Forms 1–3), initially across Botswana's South East region, beginning with a pilot in underserved schools.
Two-year journey
Intensive pre-service training, then classroom teaching with ongoing coaching, reflective practice, and leadership development - in Maths, English, and Science.
Path to national impact
Pilot phase
2027 – 2028
4 schools (3 public junior secondary + 1 low-cost private) · 16 Fellows
South East expansion
By 2030
All 21 junior secondary schools across the South East region
National reach
By 2036
Expansion across Botswana, prioritising underserved regions including Ghanzi and Kgalagadi
Partners & sponsors
Proud network partner of Teach For All
Teach First Botswana is a network partner of Teach For All - a global network of independent, locally led teaching fellowship organisations spanning 63 countries. TFB joins as Botswana's first locally led partner, drawing on proven models while building a movement rooted in Botswana's own communities.
FAQ
Questions, answered
Who can join the Fellowship?
- Graduates from STEM, education, and social science disciplines
- Young professionals from industry seeking to contribute to national development
- Individuals with strong ties to underserved communities
- Candidates demonstrating leadership potential, resilience, and a commitment to equity
How do I apply?
An application portal will be published on our website and social media pages once the recruitment cycle is open. Watch this space!
How can I volunteer with the organisation?
To volunteer your time and talents and effect change on a national level, email an introduction of yourself and your updated curriculum vitae (CV) to teachfirstbotswana@gmail.com.
How can I donate?
Please reach out to us via teachfirstbotswana@gmail.com to learn more about the various donation channels available.
How do I partner with the organisation?
Please reach out to us via teachfirstbotswana@gmail.com to explore potential partnership pathways.
Contact
Let's build the future of education in Botswana - together
Whether you're a prospective Fellow, a potential partner, a donor, or a volunteer - we'd love to hear from you.