07 Feb 2019

The Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development has introduced programmes at Boteti Brigade considered relevant to the economic activity in the area

The introduced programmes include heavy plant mechanic, renewable energy, auto mechanics, auto electrical and building and fabrication.

This was said by Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Tshenolo Mabeo in Parliament on Wednesday.

Mr Mabeo said in the past three years, the brigade has been offering borehole mechanics, bricklaying and plastering, carpentry and joinery and certificate in accounting and business studies programmes which were deemed irrelevant hence the introduction of new ones.

Mr Mabeo said mining related programmes would be offered in 2019 at a cost of P2 million that would cover wages for temporary lecturers, procurement of equipment and expansion of infrastructure.

He said the current living allowance per student was P300, adding that his ministry was in the process of requesting government to consider increasing students allowance to match the challenges faced by students.

However, he noted that there were no plans to build hostels due to budgetary constraints.

The MP for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe had asked the minister to state programmes offered at Boteti Brigade during the past three years, and whether they were relevant considering economic activity around the area.

He also enquired if government would consider including mining courses at the brigade, and how much it would cost and when it would be done.

MP Lelatisitswe had also wanted to know the amount given to students as allowance, and if government would consider building hostels as it was expensive for students to rent given their current living allowance. ENDS