11 Feb 2015

Mokoro polling requires a specialist guide license that is exclusive to Batswana, Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Mr Tshekedi Khama, has said.

Responding to a question in Parliament from Maun West MP, Mr Tawana Moremi, the minister said eligible candidates did not undergo formal training, but were given a test to certify and formalise their indigenous knowledge.  “This is undertaken by the Botswana Wildlife Training Institute in Maun,” he added. 

However, he said a new Botswana National Qualifications Framework is being developed by the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to certify tourism guides including Mokoro polers. 

When the new system is implemented, the minister said, Mokoro polers will have to demonstrate competence on a range of selected modules. 

Currently, Minister Khama said his ministry is awaiting the release of the Qualifications Framework, adding that once the framework is completed, the training and assessment will be conducted by registered institutions. 

Mr Moremi wanted to know what programmes are in place to facilitate the training of Mokoro polers toward certification. ENDS