06 Nov 2016

Lack of funds to sponsor new students was the challenge facing the education ministry at the beginning of the current academic year.

Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr Fedilis Molao, said when responding to a question in Parliament that as a result, the issuance of sponsorship letters was  delayed since the ministry had to seek authority prior to sponsorship.

He said this affected the start period for new students at different institutions especially those whose academic year started in July and August.

Mr Molao further noted that the other challenge experienced was for students who were seeking re-sponsorship.

He said the delay in processing their applications was mainly due to large numbers of students applying for the re-sponsorship in which there were around 8 000 and the request were assessed individually.

He revealed that the effects of the above challenges are the delay in issuing re-sponsorship letters leading to a delay in the registration of students.

In addition, he said no deserving students are denied sponsorship due to the above challenges, but only limiting factor is the availability of funds.

Mr Mola was respomding to a question from Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse who wanted the minister to state challenges faced by Tertiary Education Financing at the beginning of the current academic year.

He also asked the effects of these challenges to among others the delays and denials of sponsorship contracts to learners. ENDS