Mercy Rapelesega Montsi’s research while affiliated with University of Botswana and other places

The study examined the perceived implementation challenges of Guidance as a subject in Botswana primary schools. Thirty–two primary school teachers and four school heads participated. The sample of teachers was randomly selected whilst the school heads were purposively selected from four primary schools in Tlokweng village. The survey design used combined both qualitative and quantitative methods. Data were collected using questionnaires and interviews in this study. The study found that teachers were not adequately prepared to teach Guidance and that school heads did not supervise Guidance because they lacked knowledge and skills in the subject; that teachers experienced problems in the implementation of Guidance because of lack of support materials which could assist them in teaching Guidance; and that time allocated for teaching Guidance was inadequate. Implementation is likely to be more successful with training support for school personnel.

We examined coping strategies by higher education employees to handle work stress as differentiated by personnel variables. We further examined levels of subjective well-being (SWB) in the same employees. Sixty-three higher education employees participated (males = 30; females = 33; mean age = 41.3 years). The participants completed the Coping Orientation to the Problems Experienced (COPE) survey, which measures different behaviours and cognitive activities one may engage in to cope with stress. They also completed the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) which is a measure of subjective well-being (SWB). Academic staff used problem-solving coping strategies more than administrative or support staff did. Both academic and support staff had a greater use of avoidance coping strategies than would be expected in a knowledge-based learning community. Senior staff had higher SWB as did staff with higher qualifications.

This paper investigated the views of some adolescents in Botswana about how HIV/AIDS can be stemmed The rationale of the study was the fact that observations an-) literature trends tend to support the fact that youths are the at-risk group; Adolescence, in particular has been described as a developmental stage in which libido is most active. Furthermore, apparently, efforts being made to contain the spread of the pandemic, including the popular Batswana ABC acronym for reduction of its spread seems to yield no significant results. Since a lot of efforts so far made were made by adults, there seems an apparent need to involve the youths themselves in evolving a pragmatic model lor stemming this pandemic. Participants of the study emphasised the need for parents to face the challenge of discussing sexuality issues with their children The need to demonstrate trust in their children and prove themselves positive models were also emphasised The Nigerian Journal Of Guidance And Counselling Vol. 7 (1) 2000: pp. 206-213

This exploratory study describes the provision of HIV & AIDS counselling services in Botswana junior secondary schools as perceived by teachers. A total of 45 teachers (age range = 20-55; teaching experience range = 0-21 years) from three schools participated. The participants completed a questionnaire on the types of HIV & AIDS-related counselling services provided in the junior secondary schools services, their self-rated HIV & AIDS counselling training needs and their perceived importance of the HIV & AIDS-related counselling services. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed a broad range of HIV & AIDS-related counselling services including life-skills education, care and support education and stigma reduction counselling. Teachers perceived a greater need for training in HIV & AIDS counselling skills and also in the use of information technology to support counselling.

The article focuses on 50 essays written by young people, aged 14-20, in Botswana, Africa, about how life would change if they were to wake up one day and find themselves a member of the other sex. The youth are peer counselors in a Young Women's Christian Association's program, 'Peer Approach to Counseling by Teens' (PACT), which is used in schools. Twenty-five of the essays were written by males and 25 by females. Conventional qualitative analyses are employed to (a) determine the extent to which the essays present positive, negative or mixed responses to life as the other sex; and (b) identify gender themes embedded in the essays. A departure from the conventional is provided through poetic representation. Two data poems were constructed from the essays. A poetic response to the data poems is also included.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of Massachusetts, 1978.