07 Jul 2019

The Assistant Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Mr Karabo Gare has said organisations may sponsor employees for further training or reimburse those self-sponsored upon completion of further training according to their respective training policies.

Answering a question in Parliament recently, Mr Gare said Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) employees who took study loans were fully refunded on successful completion of their studies in line with its training policy.

He also told Parliament that CEDA had since sponsored 17 employees for post graduate studies with various institutions of higher learning locally and globally.

Parliament also heard that Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) conditions of employment also provided for such and was currently sponsoring five employees pursuing post-graduate chartered professional specialisation training. he organisation  and had also sponsored two administration officers to upgrade their qualifications to degree level.

Again, Mr Gare told Parliament that BDC focused on upskilling talent at lower levels and thus enrolled inexperienced employees on a two-year on the job graduate training programme.

Further, he said other organisations such as Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) had sent employees for specialisation courses instead of Masters Degree.

He said BITC continually enrolled its employees on short courses and programmes for both technical and soft skills that enhanced their knowledge, skills as well as competencies in the workplace.

“BITC has reimbursed employees who pass the course which they would have self-sponsored depending on whether the programme is in line with their line of work, is relevant for the enhancement of their effectiveness in the workplace and is part of their approved Personal Development Plan,” he said.

On other organisations, the assistant minister said Competition Authority had sent a total of 18 employees for Masters Degree and specialisation programme since its inception in 2011.

He noted that employees were also reimbursed upon successful completion of study in instances where they had opted for self-sponsorship with prior approval.

He said Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) had in the past been able to train 638 employees for specialised short-term training and not at Masters level.

He indicated that in line with its learning, training and development policy, LEA periodically undertook training needs assessment for the organisation.

“Based on the Authority’s needs for specialised competencies and with written authority for staff to pursue training, members of staff are accordingly reimbursed full amount of tuition and examination fees on successful completion of training,” he said. ENDS