15 Apr 2013

A total of 2 874 teachers were nominated for further training in the 2012/13 financial year, Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development told Parliament, Friday.

Mr Patrick Masimolole explained that 2 189 of the teachers were admitted and sponsored in local and external institutions while 685 were not placed for varied reasons. He said the majority of teachers were not placed due to inadequate space to absorb all of them at the institutions.

He also said some were not admitted or sponsored due to their failure to meet the institutions’ admission requirements, while some withdrew for personal reasons. He explained that the 685 who were not sponsored have thus been given selection priority for the 2013/14 financial year. He added that given the study in Botswana policy adopted by the ministry, they would give priority to local institutions.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister to state the number of teachers nominated for further studies in 2012 but were not sponsored, reasons for not sponsoring them and plans in place regarding their training. ENDS