15 Dec 2016

A total of P213 009.684 has been spent on Target 20 000 programme to date as tuition fees and living allowances for students.

The Target 20 000 initiative, introduced in January, is an up-skilling programme geared towards preparing unemployed youths to gain skills that would enable them to gain employment or be self-employed.

According to Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research and Technology, Mr Fidelis Molao, the programme currently had 6 346 active students enrolled for certificate and diploma programmes,
He informed Parliament on Wednesday that the programmes ranged from one to three years in duration.

He further explained that a total of 2 609 beneficiaries had exited the programme to date while 1 030 were anticipated to exit by the end of the 2016/17 financial year. “A tracer study is being conducted since November 2016 and so far it has revealed that 39 beneficiaries of the programme have been employed.

These beneficiaries have found employment in the following areas:, computerised accounting, security guard services, purchasing and materials management,” Mr Molao said.

He added that the study would  continue and data accumulated would be used to assess the overall impact of the programme.Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the assistant minister to give progress report on Target 20 000 programme. ENDS