02 Nov 2016

The Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr Fedelis Molao said there are 17, 431 students sponsored by government at private tertiary institutions.

Responding to a question from Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse in Parliament, Mr Molao explained that the figures for the past two years were at 23, 091 in 2014/2015 and 18,879 in 2015/2016. Mr Molao stated that there was a decrease of 18 per cent in the number of students sponsored at private institutions between 2014-2015 and 2015-2016.

He said the decrease was due to the fact that there was an overall decline in the total number of new students placed in 2015/16.

He further pointed out that 11, 027 new students were placed in 2014/15 as compared to 8561 new students placed in 2015/16 in 19 different tertiary institutions around the country.

He mentioned that the decline was attributable to the unsatisfactory performance of Form 5 leavers, with fewer students having met the 36 points set as a threshold for sponsorship.

Mr Keorapetse had asked the minister to state the number of learners currently sponsored by government at private tertiary institutions.

He had also wanted to know the number by institution as well as to know if the number has increased or declined in the last two years and if so, by what percentage and to state the reasons. ENDS