09 Mar 2016

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development’s over P11. 7 billion budget proposal for the 2016/17 financial year was approved on Monday after an overwhelming backing from Parliament. 

The budget, presented by the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Unity Dow includes over P10.6 billion for the recurrent budget and over P1 billion for the development budget.

The recurrent budget has increased by P327.9 million from the previous financial year, Dr Dow stated, adding that the largest proportion of the money would go to personnel emoluments at P5.5 billion while P2.1 billion has been set aside for the financing of students’ education.

The six parastatal organisations under the ministry have been reserved a total of P1.3 billion with the University of Botswana set to get the largest share of P703 million, while Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) will get P320.5 million and Botswana Accountancy College (BAC) P3.64 million.

Dr Dow said over P531.6 million would be spent on Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) while tertiary education financing would get over P2.1 billion. 

She said the money spent on tertiary education financing was a decrease of 5.3 per cent compared to the previous financial year.

She further said over P845 million would be spent on the Department of Secondary Education while over P135 million would be spent on the Department of Pre and Primary Education.

The ministry’s development budget includes over P38 million for the ministry’s headquarters, and the funds are for the implementation of, amongst others, the ministry’s computerisation. 

The minister said a further P10.9 million would be used for the completion of the modification of jewelry workshop at Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology and design works for upgrading and refurbishment of the Selebi Phikwe Technical College.

Dr Dow stated that further monies from the development budget would be spent on connection of electricity to various primary schools across the country, secondary schools expansion project and construction of teachers’ houses and maintenance of junior schools across the country.

“The ongoing construction of Tsabong and Mahupu unified schools requires P170 million and P155 million respectively,” she said.

The MPs who debated the budget proposal overwhelmingly supported it. 

The MP for Nkange, Mr Edwin Batshu said the government should spend money to improve infrastructure in schools. 

He called for more classrooms and teachers houses to be built in his constituency, saying they were experiencing shortage of such facilities. 

The Nkange MP also expressed concern at the declining performance of students at secondary school level, calling for investigations on the root cause of the problem.

He also asked for Nkange and Moses Mengwe junior secondary schools to be provided with boarding facilities. 

The MP also commended Dagwi Primary School for having attained a 100 per cent pass rate last year.

The MP for Ngami, Mr Thato Kwerepe asked for a senior secondary school in his constituency. 

“My constituency has four junior secondary schools, but there is no senior school in the constituency to enroll the students from these junior schools. 

They end up being forced to travel long distances to access senior education. 

Students need to be closer to their families for them to perform well in their studies,” Mr Kwerepe reasoned.

He also asked the ministry to build a brigade offering tourism related courses in Tsau.

The MP for Kanye North, Mr Patrick Ralotsia said the money would not be enough to meet the demands of the ministry. He said the ministry should start to strictly implement the requirements of the Revised National Policy on Education which amongst others requires every school to have at least 22 classrooms and an enrollment of not more than 800 students for primary schools. 

He also called for failing students to repeat where there were indications that making them to repeat would help them.

The MP for Mahalapye West, Mr Joseph Molefhe asked for the teacher-student ratio to be reduced in government schools, saying it was a hindrance to good performance.

 He also said there should be enough learning materials in schools.

Thamaga-Kumakwane MP, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo asked the ministry to consider turning one of the junior schools in his constituency into a unified secondary school, saying the student population has increased rapidly in his constituency. Ends