28 Nov 2016

 Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology says in 2012 the former Ministry of Education and Skills Development took a decision to phase out teacher training at the Francistown College of Education.
Answering a question in Parliament, Dr Alfred Madigele said this followed the findings of a study commissioned in 2006 on teacher supply and demand for Botswana primary and secondary schools, which revealed oversupply of teachers in that regard.
He indicated that consequently, there were no new admissions since 2012 at the college and the last cohort of students graduated in September 2015. “Currently the college facilities are utilised by BOCODOL and IDM,” he said.
Dr Madigele further said in implementing the above mentioned decision, the ministry re-deployed the college lecturers to various colleges across the country and other education departments.
He noted that the ministry was in the process of absorbing remaining 14 lecturers and 24 support staff.
He said the ministry held a meeting on November 15 this year with relevant trade unions and Directorate on Public Service Management (DPSM) to finalise on the re-deployment exercise.
Member of Parliament for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister on the status of the Francistown College of Education and lecturers of the said college. ENDS