Mandate
BEC is mandated under section 5 of the Botswana Examinations Council Act (Act No. 11 of 2002) to conduct school examinations and any other examinations for the Ministry of Education and Skills Development and issue certificates in respect of the examinations. BEC’s key business activities include examinations and assessment policy and programme development, the conduct and regulation of national school examination programmes and the award of certificates for programmes in the general education subsector. The specific functions and responsibilities of BEC are as follows:
- To advise the Ministry of Education and Skills Development on assessment issues;
- To provide appropriate assessment programmes and examination tools;
- To provide examination procedures for all aspects of examinations;
- To manage and administer the examination and certification process in general education;
- To provide regulatory mechanisms for examinations in general;
- To accredit all examination centres including schools;
- To award qualifications in general education;
- To maintain competitive standards in examinations;
- To ensure the maintenance of internationally competitive performance standards.
The Council currently runs the following Internal Examinations:
· Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).
· Junior Certificate Examination (JCE).
· Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE).
External Examinations
For those who never say it is enough in their quest for education, BEC provides testing/examinations services for international testing agencies or Examination Boards such as:
Educational Testing Service (USA):
-SAT – Scholastic Aptitudes Tests
-TOEFL – Test of English as a foreign language
-TWE – Test of written English
-GRE – Graduate Record Tests
-TSE - Test of spoken English
University of London Examinations Board:
-Diploma Courses
-Degree Courses
-Post Graduate
Example of programs: Law, Information Systems, Health and Environmental Courses.
Edexcel International (A wing of the University of London):
-GCE ‘O’ ‘AS’ and ‘A’ level
-GCSE
-IGCSE
Association of Business Executives (ABE)
Our Vision
“To be a provider of accessible and globally competitive qualifications.”
Our Mission
“Provision of a credible and responsive assessment and examination system.”
Mission Commentary:
Credible: Trustworthy and Error free assessments and examinations that conforms
to both the local and international standards.
Responsive: Examination and Assessment system that is affiliated to the national
curriculum, takes into cognisance candidates with special needs and is not detached
from current issues in the environment, also relevant to the local market.
Core Values
• Excellence
We have passion for quality work and outstanding performance characterised
by the use of innovative and creative solutions.
• Integrity
We uphold best practice standards, honesty, professionalism and ethical behaviour.
• Transparency
We are open in all matters of public interest while safeguarding confidential
information.
• People Focus
important to us. We are thus committed to cultivating a culture that is characterised
by mutual respect, professionalism, courtesy, compassion and sharing to build lasting
and rewarding relationships.