29 Jul 2015

The late allowances for dressmaking and secretarial courses students at Mahalapye Brigade Centre are due to the standing agreement between the Ministry of Education and Skills Development and the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC).

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse told Parliament that the ministry and HRDC had agreed to disburse funds termly because of the administrative process involved in paying the allowances.

“It is not only Mahalapye Brigade students who are affected, but all 10 000 students enrolled in brigades are eligible to this allowance,” he said.

In mitigating against late payment of allowances and to promote efficiency in students allowance management, he said the ministry was currently in dialogue to relocate management of students allowances to the Department of Tertiary Education Finance. 

Mr Autlwetse also said he was aware of the training situation within the specified division at Mahalapye Brigade, adding that the dress making division had four overlocker machines and that three were not working while one was faulty.

He said there were 29 stitching machines, and that one was not working while 28 were working.

A total of 61 students from three classes, he said, were using the machines and practical sessions were timetabled such that the three classes did not clash.

Mahalapye West MP, Mr Joseph Molefe had asked the minister to state plans in place to resolve the issue of students getting their allowance late.

He also asked if the minister was aware that the environment at Mahalapye Brigade Centre was not conducive for learning. Ends