MATHEMATICS I SYLLABUS
LEVEL: NCQF 4
i
, MINISTRY OF BASIC EDUCATION
NAME OF ORGANISATION: DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION
TITLE OF PROGRAMME: BOTSWANA SENIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION (BSSE)
LEARNING FIELD: EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DOMAIN: MATHEMATICS I
LEVEL: NCQF 4
DURATION: 2 YEARS DELIVERY MODE: FULL TIME/PART TIME
MONTH AND YEAR DEVELOPED: September 2020 YEAR DUE FOR REVIEW: 2026
MINISTRY OF BASIC EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION
PRIVATE BAG 501
GABORONE
BOTSWANA
TELEPHONE: 3647500
REFERENCE: DCDE
FAX: 3973842
ii
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ VI
NATIONAL PANEL .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... VI
STANDING COMMITTEE ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... VII
QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... IX
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10
RATIONALE FOR THE SYLLABUS ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
BSSE EXIT OUTCOMES ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
SUBJECT OUTCOMES .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
TARGET POPULATION AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
EMPLOYMENT AND FURTHER STUDIES OPPORTUNITIES ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
SYLLABUS STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
DELIVERY MODE .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
DELIVERY ROAD MAP ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21
RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
MAT1SL 1: EXPLORE NUMBERS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
MAT1SL 2: APPLY CONCEPTS OF MEASURES ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
MAT1SL 3: DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF GEOMETRY .................................................................................................................................................................... 40
MAT1SL 4: DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF ALGEBRA .................................................................................................................................................................. 47
MAT1SL 5: STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 56
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 62
iii
, FOREWORD
The Ministry of Basic Education has undertaken a comprehensive review of Botswana's General Education system to ensure provision of accessible,
quality and inclusive lifelong education for the creation of an educated citizenry. This education system will transform Botswana from a resource based
to a globally competitive knowledge based economy. The review entails the adoption of outcome-based approach and the introduction of learning
pathways to provide learners with broad-based education. The new approach will enable attainment of knowledge, values, skills and competencies that
meet the challenges and needs of the 21st century.
The Ministry is therefore pleased to present the revised senior secondary school syllabus which marks a major milestone towards the attainment of quality
education in Botswana. It builds on the lower levels of basic education and seeks to provide quality-learning experiences. The syllabus puts more
emphasis on Provider/School-Based Assessment (PBA) and to a lesser extent on national examinations. This will ensure that there is genuine acquisition
of the desired competencies by all learners. Furthermore, the syllabus aims at creating and sustaining a conducive environment for learning and teaching
that allows learners to excel within their own capabilities.
This syllabus sets out a transformational platform of the education system to encapsulate contemporary matters related to; environmental, socio-
economic, political, scientific and technological issues as drawn from various societal demands. A deliberate attempt has been made to infuse and
integrate emerging issues that include; Environmental Education, Sustainable Development, HIV/AIDS Education, Disaster Management, Anti-
corruption, Culture, Gender Equity, Emotional Intelligence, Botho, Civic Education, Societal Values and Patriotism. The syllabus prepares learners for
the world of work, further education and lifelong learning. In addition, it provides for the development of cultural and national identity, including the
inculcation of attitudes and values which nurture respect for self and for others.
Critical to the success of our secondary education programme is the recognition of individual talents, needs and learning styles, hence changing the role
of the teacher in the classroom. The teacher must become a proficient manager, facilitator and director of learning activities, who is conscious of the
iv
LEVEL: NCQF 4
i
, MINISTRY OF BASIC EDUCATION
NAME OF ORGANISATION: DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION
TITLE OF PROGRAMME: BOTSWANA SENIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION (BSSE)
LEARNING FIELD: EDUCATION AND TRAINING
DOMAIN: MATHEMATICS I
LEVEL: NCQF 4
DURATION: 2 YEARS DELIVERY MODE: FULL TIME/PART TIME
MONTH AND YEAR DEVELOPED: September 2020 YEAR DUE FOR REVIEW: 2026
MINISTRY OF BASIC EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION
PRIVATE BAG 501
GABORONE
BOTSWANA
TELEPHONE: 3647500
REFERENCE: DCDE
FAX: 3973842
ii
, TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ VI
NATIONAL PANEL .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... VI
STANDING COMMITTEE ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... VII
QUALITY ASSURANCE TEAM ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... IX
INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 10
RATIONALE FOR THE SYLLABUS ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11
BSSE EXIT OUTCOMES ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 13
SUBJECT OUTCOMES .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16
TARGET POPULATION AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 16
EMPLOYMENT AND FURTHER STUDIES OPPORTUNITIES ......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
SYLLABUS STRUCTURE .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 17
DELIVERY MODE .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18
DELIVERY ROAD MAP ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 18
METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 20
ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21
RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22
MAT1SL 1: EXPLORE NUMBERS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 23
MAT1SL 2: APPLY CONCEPTS OF MEASURES ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36
MAT1SL 3: DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF GEOMETRY .................................................................................................................................................................... 40
MAT1SL 4: DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF ALGEBRA .................................................................................................................................................................. 47
MAT1SL 5: STATISTICS AND PROBABILITY ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 56
REFERENCES ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 62
iii
, FOREWORD
The Ministry of Basic Education has undertaken a comprehensive review of Botswana's General Education system to ensure provision of accessible,
quality and inclusive lifelong education for the creation of an educated citizenry. This education system will transform Botswana from a resource based
to a globally competitive knowledge based economy. The review entails the adoption of outcome-based approach and the introduction of learning
pathways to provide learners with broad-based education. The new approach will enable attainment of knowledge, values, skills and competencies that
meet the challenges and needs of the 21st century.
The Ministry is therefore pleased to present the revised senior secondary school syllabus which marks a major milestone towards the attainment of quality
education in Botswana. It builds on the lower levels of basic education and seeks to provide quality-learning experiences. The syllabus puts more
emphasis on Provider/School-Based Assessment (PBA) and to a lesser extent on national examinations. This will ensure that there is genuine acquisition
of the desired competencies by all learners. Furthermore, the syllabus aims at creating and sustaining a conducive environment for learning and teaching
that allows learners to excel within their own capabilities.
This syllabus sets out a transformational platform of the education system to encapsulate contemporary matters related to; environmental, socio-
economic, political, scientific and technological issues as drawn from various societal demands. A deliberate attempt has been made to infuse and
integrate emerging issues that include; Environmental Education, Sustainable Development, HIV/AIDS Education, Disaster Management, Anti-
corruption, Culture, Gender Equity, Emotional Intelligence, Botho, Civic Education, Societal Values and Patriotism. The syllabus prepares learners for
the world of work, further education and lifelong learning. In addition, it provides for the development of cultural and national identity, including the
inculcation of attitudes and values which nurture respect for self and for others.
Critical to the success of our secondary education programme is the recognition of individual talents, needs and learning styles, hence changing the role
of the teacher in the classroom. The teacher must become a proficient manager, facilitator and director of learning activities, who is conscious of the
iv
