A fit-for-purpose, functional program is the vehicle that guarantees the relevance of an education system by ensuring the sustainability of the society. Failure of a program to be relevant has the potential to cause crisis in a society. This basic qualitative research study explored the experiences of the beneficiaries of a skills development program (SDP) in the rural Kgalagadi south subdistrict of Botswana with specific reference to the benefits and challenges of the program and its potential to improve their livelihoods. Twelve beneficiaries (program participants) of the SDP and their four trainers were purposively selected and interviewed. Data were also collected through observation. The findings indicated that the participants benefited from the SDP training in terms of knowledge, skills, and competencies that they had acquired. As such, they now could make good quality products. The findings also showed that the beneficiaries faced certain challenges with the SDP, especially the lack of financial muscle to sponsor their products. With the necessary improvements, the SDP promises to improve the livelihoods of those who undergo the training in the Kgalagadi south rural communities. This study sheds new insights on the benefits and challenges of the SDP, and this can help decision-makers and funders (Botswana government in particular) in the review of the program.

中文翻译：

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博茨瓦纳Kgalagadi南区技能发展计划的收益与挑战的见解：受益者的经验

适合目的的功能性程序是通过确保社会的可持续性来保证教育系统的相关性的工具。程序不相关可能导致社会危机。这项基本的定性研究研究了博茨瓦纳农村Kgalagadi南部分区的技能开发计划（SDP）受益人的经验，并特别提到了该计划的好处和挑战以及其改善生计的潜力。有目的地选择了SDP的十二个受益人（方案参与者）及其四名培训师。还通过观察收集了数据。调查结果表明，参与者在获得的知识，技能和能力方面受益于SDP培训。因此，他们现在可以制造出高质量的产品。调查结果还表明，受益人在SDP方面面临某些挑战，特别是缺乏赞助其产品的资金实力。通过必要的改进，SDP承诺将改善在Kgalagadi南部农村社区接受培训的人们的生活。这项研究为SDP的好处和挑战提供了新的见解，这可以帮助决策者和资助者（特别是博茨瓦纳政府）审查该计划。SDP承诺改善那些在Kgalagadi南部农村社区接受培训的人的生活。这项研究为SDP的好处和挑战提供了新的见解，这可以帮助决策者和资助者（特别是博茨瓦纳政府）审查该计划。SDP承诺改善那些在Kgalagadi南部农村社区接受培训的人的生活。这项研究为SDP的好处和挑战提供了新的见解，这可以帮助决策者和资助者（特别是博茨瓦纳政府）审查该计划。