Our History
Our Journey
1978
1978
Dr. Ian Kennedy initiated the first Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Clinic in Bamalete Luthern Hospital in Ramotswa through funds from Christoffel Blinden Mission (CBM) in Germany. Subsequently, Mr. Ronald Stanley Fish founded the Ramotswa Society for the Deaf (RSD) which was formed and initiated being first unit for the Deaf in Ramotswa. The second school was in Francistown called Francistown Centre for the Deaf. This was followed by a need to establish a coordinating centre that resulted in forming the Botswana Society for the Deaf (BSD) that governs both sites of Ramotswa and Francistown.
1979
1979
Ramotswa Society for the Deaf formed and initiated the first unit for the Deaf in Ramotswa. This was situated at Magopane Primary School and it started with six Deaf children sponsored by CBM.
1988
1988
Ramotswa Society for the Deaf Unit was moved to Ramotswa Centre for Deaf Education, and operated as a registered special school. It was then moved to its new premises where it is currently based.
1989
1989
Botswana Society for the Deaf was registered and based in Francistown to operate as the mother body, this was because there was a new school that was built there, and the first Director, Mr.Micheal Schultz had to be close to the project. He was later succeeded by Ms. Maureen Mushinge. It was during this year that the Board was initiated under the leadership of Mr Ronald Stanley Fish who was the Chairperson.
1991
1991
The Botswana Society for the Deaf established a new Centre, Francistown Centre for the Deaf Education with 24 Boarders and 6 day-scholars enrolled.1991 His Excellency, the Former President of the Republic of Botswana Dr.Festus G.Mogae, who was then the Minister of Finance and Development Planning joined the organization as its Patron. He is still the organizations Patron.
1996
1996
Botswana was declared an upper middle-income country, hence CBM withdrew their funding. The Government of Botswana took over the recurrent budget of the organization through annual subversions. It was at this stage that school fees were abolished. The mother body office was then moved to Ramotswa. It was during this Period that the Director’s position was localized, and the first Motswana to be appointed was Mrs. Motshidisi Toto.
1998
1998
A precious rock was discovered at Francistown Centre for Deaf Education. It is being preserved as a monument, post a Botswana Geological Survey.
2001
2001
Botswana Association of the Deaf was established, with intention to strengthen the Deaf structures for the youth and those who completed school. The Association was formed in Ramotswa, at Lesetlhana Ward. It then relocated to Gaborone, Extension 4 Southring.
2001-2003
2001-2003
The BSD head office was closed in Ramotswa in 2001 and was temporarily moved to Francistown where most of the Board members were located.
2004
2004
The head office was then relocated to Gaborone with only 2 officers, the then Manager and the Receptionist.
2005-2012
2005-2012
 There was a large turn-over of Directors during this period as the organization was stabilizing in terms of its coordinating role. In 2012 the Staff compliment stood at 12 officers at the Head Office
2009
2009
BSD sent the first group of 3 Deaf students to National Institute of the Deaf in Worcester, Capetown. This initiative was taken over by Ministry of Education and Skills Development, through the Division of Special education now Department of Special Support Services (DSSS) located within the Ministry of Basic Education (MOBE).
2011
2011
BSD acquired its own office premises for P1.3 million at Extension 2, Plot 1061, Seboko Road, Gaborone. BSD registered for accreditation with Botswana Training Authority (BOTA) now Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA) for the Sign Language Training Program level 1, and 2
2013
2013
The current Executive Director Mrs. Orapeleng Mokgosi was appointed. The student enrolment in the two schools in Francistown and Ramotswa stood at 250 for Pre and Primary intake, 70 teaching staff and 75 auxiliary staff. BSD also accredited Sign Language Training Program level 3 with BQA.
2016
2016
The total auxiliary complement at BSD stood at 102 at all sites.
2017
2017
Mr. Ronald Stanley Fish officially retired from active Board participation and support to BSD.
2018
2018
ACHAP Partnered with BSD to ensure that there is direct and tailored inclusiveness of the Deaf community in the National HIV/AIDS response.
2019
2019
Formation of Parents of the Deaf Association. A new Board of 8 members was appointed to serve for 3 years (2019 to 2021). The BSD Board formulated 21 additional BSD Institutional Policies in Finance and Administration; Human Resources as well as the Conditions of Service and Staff Regulations.
2020
2020
2020 BSD revised its constitution which was adopted at a Special AGM on the 20th May 2020. Botswana was affected by the Covid 19 pandemic; resulting in loss of lives of the BSD beneficiaries who were affected. Other socio economic issues such as Gender Based Violence (GBV), depression led to suicide by some of the members of the Deaf community from circumstances related to Covid 19. Some of the members of the Deaf community lost jobs especially those working in the retail industry. Furthermore Government Subventions were frozen; all of these affected the Deaf community. BSD and the Ministry of Health partnered to do a Covid 19 pandemic assessment of the Deaf community which provided recommendations for future programming response to Covid 19 for the Deaf.
