24 Jan 2019

Acting President Slumber Tsogwane has commended Gaborone University College (GUC) management for partnering with government in delivering quality education to Batswana.

Officially opening GUC Mmopane campus on January 23, Mr Tsogwane said from 2001, the government made a decision to reduce outward bound learners in favour of in-country education and training, and appealed to the private sector to partner with the government.

“At that time government appealed to the private sector to partner with government in developing appropriate facilities as well as designing and delivering education and training programmes that are relevant to the needs of Botswana’s economy, yet allowing our graduates to compete globally,” he said.

He said the opening of Mmopane Campus was a clear demonstration that the private sector was committed to developing the skills of Batswana.

Mr Tsogwane said there was an urgent need for technical and vocational skills that would assist in driving economic diversification as well as resuscitating economies that had been affected by the global economic crisis of the recent years.

He further said Botswana was facing challenges caused by youth unemployment, adding  that institutions such as the GUC should be used to impart relevant knowledge and skills to young people.

“In order to achieve this, there will be a need to continually align the programmes offered in this institution to what the economy needs. As a country, we need to capitalise on resources at our disposal to capacitate the young in technical and vocational education and training for the world of work and employment,” he said.

The Acting President said institutions should not just offer education and training, but need to also serve as incubators for the diverse talent possessed by the youth.

“GUC Mmopane campus should prepare our citizens to function effectively in the society and also contribute towards the development of our country,” he said.

He said he was happy the campus was dedicated to the development of applied arts and technology.

“Through this facility, you are enabling this country to unearth its very own artists and technologists,” he said, adding that they should look forward to a day when some of the celebrated artists and engineers would have been groomed by GUC.

Mr Tsogwane further commended GUC management for choosing Mmopane, saying this was helping in promoting government’s policy on equitable provision of education and training.

“Very often, developments tend to be concentrated in towns and cities. This results in skewed development and neglect of rural communities,” he said.

He said the institution would put Mmopane on the map as learners from all over the country and the Southern African region would converge in the village.

Mr Tsogwane said technical and vocational education aas well as training had been recognised as some of the key drivers of economic growth and development.

“The developed countries have capitalised on this sector of education and training over the years and this has afforded them the mileage in innovation and export,” he said.

He said as such, the government has every intention to use it for leverage and also as an impetus for development in Botswana.

The Acting President also appealed to the private sector to familiarise themselves with different national policies and strategies in order to help government with their implementation.

He cited the Revised National Policy on Education of 1994, the National Policy on Vocational Education and Training of 1997, the National Development Plans (current and past) and the National Human Resource Development Strategy. ENDS