06 Mar 2019

Twenty-two officers under the Ministry of Basic Education were nominated for Master’s Degree courses in 2018/19 financial year, Parliament has been told.

Minister of Basic Education, Mr Bagalatia Arone said this when answering a question in Parliament on March 4.

Mr Arone said 11 officers were from the Department of Special Support Services, three from Regional Operations, two from the Department of Curriculum Development and Evaluation, two from the Department of Technical Services and four from the Department of Educational Planning and Research.

He said his ministry had a training budget and a total of 499 officers were nominated for long term training during the 2018/19 to pursue various programmes from certificate to master’s level.

He stated that this effectively committed the available budget, adding that other request were declined and would be considered for next year.

The minister stated that over P2.1 million was spent on consultancy services since April 2017.

Specially Elected MP, Mr Mephato Reatile had asked the minister to state the number of employees that had been sent for further studies at Masters’ level and provide the breakdown by departments.

Mr Reatile said if none had been sent, reasons be given why employees were not sent for further studies and also wanted the minister to state the amount of money spent on consultancy services in the past five years. ENDS