Corporate Governance

INTRODUCTION

Botswana Examinations Council is committed to upholding the principles of good corporate governance, among others, independence, transparency, sustainability, accountability and integrity.  As an examination body it is also essential that BEC subscribes to the principles of good educational measurement and assessment standards. 

Botswana Examinations Council has divisions of Quality Assurance and Internal Audit which helps to ensure that internal controls are continually reviewed and adhered to for purposes of strengthening corporate governance.

GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES

THE COUNCIL

Botswana Examinations Council is governed by a Board referred to as the Council. The Council is appointed by the Minister of Education and Skills Development and consists of fourteen (14) members, with representatives from the ministry and including its Parastatals, a representative from the Directorate of the Public service Management, Botswana Police, the public, the private sector, teacher organizations, as well as the BEC Executive Secretary.  The Chairperson is an independent non-executive director who is appointed by the Minister of Education and Skills Development. 

COUNCIL COMMITTEES

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee comprises the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Council, the Executive Secretary and two other members of the Council.  The committee’s mandate is to deal with and make decisions on urgent issues that cannot wait for a full Council meeting.  These decisions however have to eventually be ratified by the Council. The Committee meets on an ad hoc basis depending on the needs of the organisation.

HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE

This committee comprises seven members. Two members are external human resources professionals while five are members of the Council. The Executive Secretary is among the five Council members and is the only executive management member in the committee.

FINANCE AND PROCUREMENT COMMITTEE

The committee comprises seven members. Four of these are Council members including the Executive Secretary. Other members are the Director Corporate Services as well as two external members.

The main functions of the committee are to make recommendations to the Council for approval of financial policies, the budget and financial statements. It is also responsible for the approval of procurement of goods and services that are above the limit of the Management Tender Committee. During the year this committee also worked as an Audit Committee.  However, by the end of the year the Council had reviewed this structure and made a decision to have a separate Audit Committee.

RESEARCH COMMITTEE

The Research Committee is responsible for advising Council on  the conduct of research and policy options emanating from research findings. In discharging its functions the Research Committee addresses the following specific duties:

·                     considers and advises  Council and Executive Management  on research areas to be addressed;

·                     approves research proposals;

·                     considers research findings and recommends action to Council;

·                     suggests to Council and the education system as a whole policy options that emanate from the research findings;

·                     facilitates the dissemination and utilization of research findings;

·                     considers such other research matters as Council may from time to time deem necessary.

FINAL AWARDS COMMITTEE

The Final Awards Committee (FAC) is responsible for making recommendations to Council for the awarding of certificates based on standards determined by the Technical Grade Advisory Committee and the relevant procedures for certification. These recommendations are in relation to the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), the Junior Certificate Examination (JCE) and the Botswana General Certificate for Secondary Examination (BGCSE) or any other examination conducted by BEC.

MANAGEMENT/ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Organisational Structure

The organizational structure as a synoptic depiction of the BEC management structure. As indicated above, the structure is  divided into five departments being Product Development and Standards, Examinations Administration and Certification, Research and Policy Development, Corporate Services and Information and Communications Technology. Examinations work has been clustered into two core business areas. The functions of the two business areas are performed by the Directorate of Product Development and Standards and the Directorate of Examinations Administration and Certification. The remaining three directorates provide support services required in ensuring that examinations are conducted efficiently and cost effectively. There are specialized support units that fall directly under the supervision of the Executive Secretary that deal with strategy management, quality and compliance assurance, internal audit and public relations.

Directorate of Product Development and Standards is responsible for the development of assessment policy, procedures and instruments as well as maintaining international competitive standards. It is also responsible for advising Council on emerging assessment needs within the education system.

Directorate of Examinations Administration and Certification provides regulatory mechanisms for all national examinations and assessments and administers examinations and tests offered by external organizations. It is responsible for the provision of  effective administrative and logistical arrangements for the conduct of examinations in schools and other examination centres.

Directorate of Research and Policy Development designs, implements and disseminates psychometric and validation studies to inform the assessment activities and conducts survey research to produce empirical evidence that can be used to inform policy decisions on assessment, operations of the council and the monitoring of educational standards.

Directorate of Corporate Services is responsible for the management of financial and human resources, assets, facilities and logistics and the provision of security services. It also ensures that BEC operates in compliance with best practice in organisational management. 

Directorate of Information and Communications Technology’s overriding purpose is to deliver and support ICT services to BEC in order to ensure efficient and secure examination processing, delivery of examination results and related matters.

Specialized Units Under the Executive Secretary’s office

Office of Strategy Management

The Office of Strategy Management is responsible for the coordination of strategy implementation, its monitoring, evaluation and review.

Compliance and Quality Assurance

The Compliance and Quality Assurance Division is responsible for the development of quality policies and standards that govern all operations and processes of the Council.

Internal Audit

This unit is responsible for the management of the audit function mainly from the financial management perspective. Its work compliments that of the Compliance and Quality Assurance which is also responsible systems audits.

Public Relations

The Public Relations Office is responsible for the corporate communications function. One of its main roles is to educate customers, stakeholders and the general public on the mandate and major operations of the Council.

CONTACTS:

Plot 54862, KT Motsete Rd, Private Bag 0070, Gaborone

Tel: +267 3650700, Fax: +267 318 5011

E-mail: enquiries@bec.co.bw

Website: www.bec.co.bw

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