07 Aug 2017

A total of 68 383 young people graduated from tertiary institutions, both private and public, from 2009 to 2015.

That, according to Minister Tshenolo Mabeo of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, covered a period of six years as data from pre-2009 was not available.

Mr Mabeo, who was answering a question in Parliament recently, said the number of graduates who have been employed is not known as there is no tracking system.

The minister said government was implementing a wide range of policies, programmes and strategies whose objective is to create employment for young people and Batswana in general.

He said policies, programmes and strategies include Entrepreneurial Policy for Botswana, Revised Industrial Development Policy for Botswana, Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy, Strategy for Economic Diversification and Sustainable Growth, Economic Diversification Strategy, SPEDU Strategy, Botswana National Export Strategy, Investment Strategy for Botswana, Economic Stimulus Programme, youth empowerment programmes including Youth Empowerment Scheme, Young Farmers Programme, and youth development programmes, among others.

Gaborone North MP, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa had asked the minister to state the number of young people who graduated from the various private and government institutions in the past 10 years.

He had also wanted to now the number of those who have been employed as well as efforts being made to create employment opportunities for these graduates. ENDS