09 Jul 2017

Parliament has welcomed the proposed transformation of the Botswana College of Distance and Open Learning (BOCODOL) into a university. 

Commenting in Parliament after the presentation of the Botswana Open University (BOU) bill, which seeks to turn BOCODOL into a university, several MPs lauded the move, saying it would serve to enhance the quality of Botswana’s education system. 

Labelling the establishment of BOU an addition to a list of home-brewed universities, MP for Palapye, Mr Moiseraele Goya observed that while Botswana had fared generally well in achieving universal access to primary education, the long-standing challenge had been the poor progress towards achieving the same feat regarding access to tertiary education. 

He said while for years Botswana had been polishing diamonds, it was now critical that the country focused on polishing its human capital, which he said would continue to propel its economy forward even after the depletion of mineral resources. 

Nkange MP, Mr Edwin Batshu said the transformation would help increase the transition rate from secondary school to tertiary education level as it would provide more opportunities of where learners could transition to following their completion of secondary school studies. 

MP Batshu had expressed concern at the current transition rate, which he said stood at 30 per cent; a situation that he noted was in sharp contrast with the 90 per cent transition rate from primary to secondary school level. 

While also welcoming the move, Specially Elected MP, Ms Bogolo Kenewendo emphasised the need to have in place robust quality assurance strategies for the new university. 

Ms Kenewendo said because the country had in the past grappled with quality assurance issues pertaining to its education system, the new university would not be immune to such, hence the need to have in place sound quality assurance strategies. 

She also emphasised the importance of aligning the envisaged university’s programmes to the skills needs of the labour market. 

Major General Pius Mokgware of Gabane-Mmankgodi concurred with the call for unparalleled quality of the university work, which he said should conform to international standards. 

Maj. Gen. Mokgware also said there was need to ensure affordability of courses so that even those with minimal financial resources would afford to pursue programmes offered at the new university. 

Also in support of the bill, Shoshong MP, Mr Dikgang Makgalemele described the proposed transformation as a progressive move. 

He said the concept of distance education was unique in that it offered the nation an opportunity for it to fast-tract its rural development efforts. 

Explaining how distance education could enhance Botswana’s rural development initiative, the legislator said one of the tenets of the country’s Rural Development Policy revolved around promoting rural area investment, which would in turn serve to, among others, curb rural to urban migration. 

MP Wynter Mmolotsi of Francistown South, who also supported BOCODOL’s transformation into a university, called on government not to disregard the already-existing universities in favour of BOU. 

Mr Mmolotsi said universities of direct learning were also important as they catered better for the needs of direct leavers of secondary schools who needed direct guidance and mentorship. 

Such learners, he noted, could not cope with the setup of an open university, which demanded more discipline as learners studied on their own and at their own pace and time. 

MP Ndaba Gaolathe of Gaborone/Bonnington South said the move was an important step towards improving the quality of education in the country as well as making education more accessible and more affordable. ends