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Homeschooling is legal in Botswana. There is no explicit law requiring parents to send their children to a school building. An estimated 3% of school-age children are homeschooled, a figure that has grown steadily over the past decade. There is no formal registration requirement and no mandated standardised testing. This guide covers the legal position, how to get started, curriculum options and costs for families in Botswana.
Yes. Botswana has no law that prohibits home education. The Education Act does not specifically address homeschooling, which means it is neither regulated nor restricted. Parents are expected to ensure their children receive an education, but the law does not specify that this must happen inside a school building.
Education in Botswana is compulsory from roughly ages 6 to 16. About 87% of school-age children attend government schools, 10% attend private schools, and approximately 3% are homeschooled. The compulsory education requirement can be satisfied through an approved home school programme, not only through institutional attendance.
There is no registration requirement for homeschooling families. You do not need to notify the Ministry of Education or any local authority before you begin. Some families choose to inform their local education office as a precaution, particularly if the child was previously enrolled in a school, but this is voluntary.
Growing visibility. Homeschooling gained public attention in Botswana when it became known that the president's daughter was home educated. The Facebook group "Homeschooling in Gaborone/Botswana" connects families across the country and serves as the main community hub. The movement has grown steadily, particularly among expat families and Batswana parents seeking alternatives to government and private school options.
Botswana's lack of formal regulation makes the process straightforward compared to countries with registration requirements.
You can follow the national Botswana curriculum (leading to the BGCSE, the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education), an international curriculum like Cambridge* International GCSEs and A-Levels or Pearson Edexcel, or the US K-12 pathway. If you enrol with an online school like CambriLearn, the school provides the curriculum, teaching, materials and assessment.
If your child is enrolled in a government or private school, notify the school in writing. Request a report card or academic transcript for the completed grades. There is no formal deregistration process equivalent to what exists in South Africa or the UK.
A quiet workspace and a reliable internet connection if using an online provider. Botswana has good internet coverage in urban areas (Gaborone, Francistown, Maun) and improving connectivity in smaller towns. If you are using an online school, the school provides the timetable, lesson materials and teacher support.
There is no legal requirement to submit records to the government. However, maintaining documentation of your child's academic progress, completed coursework and assessment results is important for future school transitions, university applications and employer verification. If your child is enrolled with an accredited online school, the school maintains these records formally.
Botswana families can choose between the national curriculum and international curricula. The qualification your child earns determines which universities will recognise it.
| Curriculum | Qualification | University Admission | International Recognition | Via CambriLearn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National (Botswana) | BGCSE | Direct admission to University of Botswana and local institutions | SADC region | No |
| Cambridge Int.* | Int. GCSE, AS, A-Level | Accepted by UB and international universities | 160+ countries | Yes, private candidate exams |
| Pearson Edexcel | Int. GCSE, Int. A-Level | Accepted by UB and international universities | 80+ countries | Yes, accredited centre |
| US K-12 | US High School Diploma | Accepted internationally | US, NCAA approved | Yes, Cognia accredited |
| CAPS | NSC matric | Accepted in Botswana, SA and select international | South Africa, SADC | Yes, billed in ZAR |
Cambridge is the most popular international option in Botswana. Several private schools in Gaborone and Francistown already follow the Cambridge curriculum. Homeschooled students sit Cambridge* examinations as private candidates at registered centres in Botswana. CambriLearn prepares students for these exams and holds accredited centre status for Pearson Edexcel.
CAPS is relevant for families with ties to South Africa. Many Batswana families have cross-border connections. The CAPS curriculum leads to the NSC matric, which is accepted by the University of Botswana and South African universities. CambriLearn's CAPS and KABV programmes are billed in South African Rand, which offers a cost advantage for families earning in Botswana Pula.
