28 May 2013

Government has taken measures to train students locally as a way of reducing huge costs of financing them abroad.

Briefing the North East district councillors on sponsorship policies during the on- going full council meeting, the deputy director of Department of Tertiary Education Financing , Mr Eugene Moyo said government has been incurring huge costs in training students outside the country .

For that, he said, government has been recruiting institutions worldwide to set up in Botswana in order to cut costs, and also help increase the number of trainees.

However, Mr Moyo said the country would continue to have a small number of students sent abroad for courses not locally available, while discussions with local institutions to introduce such courses are ongoing.

Only top achievers, he noted, would be given an option on country of their choice.

He said the last group to be sent abroad will leave the country in September and thereafter focus will be for top achievers only. 

Briefing councilors about the Back to School programme, Mr Moyo said it was open to all Batswana children who due to a variety reasons, failed to complete their education or training.

He said the programme would run for three years to absorb children who were  still at home after the education system did not offer them a second opportunity, adding that proper channels should be followed for someone to be enrolled.

On other issues, Mr Moyo said government was concerned about some students who are reluctant to repay their loans after completing their studies despite them having dound permanent  jobs.

Responding to comments from councillors who called for proper monitoring of local institutions, the deputy director explained that his department does not have powers to inspect those institutions but only give the quotas of the number to be admitted at the institution.

Nominated Councillor, Ms Ndinani Makhulela complained about shortage of lecturers in some local institutions, and said in most cases students attend lessons for almost a week without lecturers.

North East district councilors urged the department to make all necessary efforts to trace students who do not repay their loans to bring them to book.

 Makaleng ward councilor, Mr Damien Thapa thanked officials from DTEF for briefing them about issues pertaining to sponsorship, saying it shed light on how they operate. ENDS