07 Feb 2019

Most banks reimburse employees upon successful completion of their study programmes including master’s degree, says finance and economic development minister, Mr Kenneth Matambo.

He told Parliament on Wednesday that most banks offered study loans, and in some instances, interest free to encourage self-development. He also highlighted the number of staff members of banks sponsored for master’s degree in the past five years.

First National Bank Botswana, he said, sponsored 19 employees, Barclays Bank of Botswana sponsored four while Bank Gaborone had three.

Responding to a question asked by specially elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile, the minister said most of the training programmes and expenditure by banks aimed at developing specific skills related to the operations in which the staff was involved, citing banking, credit, risk management and treasury operations as well as leadership/behavioural skills as opposed to academic qualifications.

He said it helped to increase the pool of technical skills needed for on-the-job performance.

Mr Reatile had asked the minister to state the number of staff members that had been sent for further studies at masters level/specialisation by the banks in the past five years.

The minister was also to state why banks were not taking part in human development in the country, and whether the banks would reimburse employees that had already paid for their self-development.END