02 Aug 2017

The Ministry of Basic Education has not given any operational budget to the Botswana Alumni Association.

Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Moiseraele Goya said the association activities were supported when requests for assistance was made and were in agreement of the value in addition of such.

Mr Goya said so far the interim committee has visited and consulted seven out of 10 regions and incurred expenditure of over P178 000.

He stated that the interim committee was composed of dedicated former students with various backgrounds and professions.

He noted that the current chairperson has an engineering background, adding that after thorough consultations and the launch of the association, an executive committee would be duly elected.

Giving a background on the association, Mr Goya said the association was set up to coordinate various alumni associations for basic education.

He pointed out that the alumni promoted the Ministry of Education, recognised alumni associations as key stakeholders in the education system as well as strengthen the partnership between alumni, the community and schools.

Mr Goya further added that the function of the alumni was to create and maintain an environment that encouraged alumni participation through volunteerism, financial and other support.

Moreover, the assistant minister said the association coordinates, regulates and harmonises affiliate alumni bodies.

The Member of Parliament for Francistown South, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had wanted to know the importance of the new initiative called alumni association.

He had asked the minister to state the composition of the committee and the members’ professional backgrounds.

He further wanted to know how much of the ministry budget had been allocated to the functions, as well as how much has been used so far and what has the committee achieved. ENDS