31 Mar 2015

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development did not plan for construction of a vocational school at Tsau in Ngamiland District in the National Development Plan 8.

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse said, nevertheless, a decision was made during NDP 9 to take over and rationalise brigades.

He said this led to the cabinet memo of 2006 that provided for a brigade to be established in Ngamiland to ensure equitable distribution of TVET institutions in the country.

However, the assistant minister said after the takeover of brigades by the government, the ministry realised that there was duplication of programmes offered and under utilisation of the current brigades and vocational colleges.

He said as a result, there was need to carry out a rationalisation exercise which would determine the best way of utilising the existing vocational institutions with the current resources, personnel, physical and programmes.

Mr Autlwetse said the government’s plan, therefore, was to focus on increasing access in TVET, utilising existing resources and embarking on the maintenance of existing facilities rather than constructing new ones.

The MP for Ngami, Mr Thato Kwerepe had asked the minister if he was aware that Tsau was earmarked for a vocational school in NDP 8, and if so, when would the construction of the project commence.  ENDS