03 Apr 2018

Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Alfred Madigele says he is aware that DDT College of Medicine has no separate specialised laboratories for parasitology and pathology.

Dr Madigele said the college has what they called a master laboratory, where both parasitology and pathology were taught.

“Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA) will engage subject matter experts to conduct an audit to establish the suitability of the master laboratory for the delivery of parasitology and pathology,” he added.

Dr Madigele further stated that “the total amount expended on the students currently enrolled at DDT College of Medicine is P72 907 866.25 and that tuition fees for each degree course per student offered at DDT College of Medicine is P97 500.”

“There are 414 students enrolled at DDT College of Medicine and the average cost expended per student since 2015 is P292 500 for a student at year 3,” he said.

Member of Parliament for Gaborone North, Mr Haskins Nkaigwa had wanted to know if the minister was aware that DDT College of Medicine had been operating for the past three years without laboratories for parasitology and pathology.

MP Nkaigwa also asked how much government was paying for the services which had been offered to scholars.

Furthermore, he wanted to know how much government was paying the institution per student degree course and how many scholars were enrolled and the total cost per student from 2015 to date.

In response to another question from MP Nkaigwa, the minister explained that DDT College of Medicine offered courses such as bachelor of medical laboratory science, bachelor of pharmacy, bachelor of doctor assistance and bachelor of physiotherapy courses.

Dr Madigele also noted that the programmes were not accredited with Botswana Health Professionals Council because when the programmes were approved with the old Tertiary Education Council (TEC) regulations, it was not a requirement for them to be registered with Botswana Health Professionals Council.

Under the new regulations, he said all programmes that were registered by the professional bodies would be required to have passed with those bodies before they were accredited by BQA.

He said BQA would, however, engage Botswana Health Professionals Council on how students who graduated from those programmes could be assisted to register with them.

Dr Madigele noted that it was not yet fully established why currently the learners from the institution were attached at private clinics only.

He said the only reason was that public hospitals delayed in responding.

The minister also said the programme requirements were specific as to what had to be covered in a practical attachment, and those that could be offered at either government or private institutions, adding that his ministry had no reason to doubt the capacity of those medical establishments to provide the students with the necessary exposure that would make them employable by the time they completed their studies.

MP Nkaigwa had asked the minister to state what courses were offered by DDT College of Medicine, and if the courses were registered and accredited by Botswana Health Professionals Council.

He also wanted to know why scholars from the institution were only practicing in private clinics and whether they would be employable upon completion of their studies. ENDS