04 May 2015

Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) has awarded licences to 240 guides out of 1 652 applications.

A BQA assessment officer, Mr Emmanuel Chimbombi, confirmed this at the HATAB annual conference amidst complaints from guides about the new grading system introduced by BQA. He said guides had labelled the system as unreasonable and an obstacle in their profession.

A professional tour guide, Mr Grant Nel complained about the criteria used for assessing them and questioned the credibility of the assessors.

“The problem is that we are being assessed by people who do not know anything about the industry, they are not qualified to assess us hence their competency is questionable,” he said.

Another guide, who also owns Dreams Safaris, Mr Mist Setaung said one of the conditions by the BQA of an itinerary did not make sense as guides were never involved in planning itineraries.

“Itineraries do not involve guides, they simply implement what is already written in the itinerary provided,” he argued.

Mr John Aron, another guide, said as guides, they did not understand exactly what the BQA wanted from them. “I would like to know how many people have qualified because just about everybody that I know, including those that did not make it,” he said.

Responding to their queries, Mr Chimbombi explained that they ensured that every guide was awarded licences as they deserved. He explained that sometimes even the most qualified guides did not make it because they failed to submit all the required documents.

“We have an appeals office where those with grievances can go to,” he said.

Notwithstanding, he acknowledged that it was the first time they have carried out an exercise of such magnitude and it was normal to have such complaints. He did however assure guides that he was confident of the assessors they have engaged as well as the system they used to assess.

Another speaker also cautioned that such a grading system might send the wrong message to the world that guides in Botswana were not qualified and hence might damage the country’s reputation.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism (MEWT), Mr Elias Magosi admitted that it was clear that the new grading system was causing the industry too much pain and not helping them qualify. “I propose that we sit with the guides and BQA to evaluate this matter because if the assessment panel does not involve guides, then there is a problem,” he said.

Previously, Botswana Guides Association had met prior to the HATAB conference to air their grievances towards BQA’s new grading system and they had also relayed their concerns to the area Member of Parliament Mr Ronald Shamukuni. Ends