The ministry's functions include policy formation and implementation, curriculum development, teacher training, and the administration of schools across the country.

[2] There is also a large number and a wide variety of publicly and privately administered institutions of higher learning throughout the country.

All students were guaranteed ten years of basic education, leading to a Junior Certificate qualification.

[5] After leaving school, students can attend one of the seven technical colleges in the country,[6] or take vocational training courses in teaching or nursing.

[3] Total government expenditure on education as percentage of GDP in Botswana was reported to be 9.633% in 2009, the highest among Sub-Saharan African countries.

[8] The responsibility to provide early childhood education programs lies largely with the private and civil society sectors rather than with the government.

[citation needed] Many community-based programs, commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations, faith communities, and independent childcare providers offer preschool education.

[9] This started by opening a half-year pre-school class after the standard 7 students had finished writing their final exams.

The school district selects curriculum guides and textbooks that reflect a state's learning standards and benchmarks for a given grade level.

The leaders envisioned an education system that provided access to all and supported social harmony after the realization that the Botswana community was isolated according to different ethnic groups.

[citation needed] In 1977 a commission appointed by the government of Botswana published a report on educational reform: 'education for kagisano' (meaning 'education for social harmony').

[citation needed] As advised in the report, new core subjects were introduced into schools, making the education more relevant for Botswana.