03 Nov 2016

The Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr Fidelis Molao says a total number of 18 151 students were sponsored for the academic year 2014/15, 17 831 for the year 2015/16 and a total of 17 254 got sponsored in 2016/17 in public schools.

Answering a question in Parliament, Mr Molao said the total numbers had gone down slightly over the last three years, adding that between 2014/15 and 2015/16 there was a decrease of 1.8 per cent and between 2015/16 as well as 2016/17 there was a decrease of 3.2 per cent.

He noted that the number of students sponsored is determined by the budget through setting a cut off point.

“Over the last three years, the cut-off point was set at 36 points. The number of students qualifying according to the cut off points declined from 11 027 in 2014/15 to 8 561 in 2015/2016”.

Mr Molao was responding to a question asked by Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse who asked the number of learners currently sponsored by government at public tertiary institutions.

He also asked if the numbers have increased or declined in the last three years and by what per cent. ENDS