07 Jul 2019

The Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF) has not sponsored any new learners at Boitekanelo College for BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics since 2017.

Responding to a question in Parliament Assistant Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Mr Moiseraele Goya said DTEF started sponsoring students for BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics in 2014 up to 2016.

However, Mr Goya said the program was placed on ‘Deferred Status’ by Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA)  in 2017, but explained that students who were already enrolled in the programme were allowed to continue with their studies as  provided for in terms of the BQA regulations.

Minister Goya further said the first group of learners placed in August 2014 and were due to complete in June 2018 were advised to undertake a 12 months internship instead of an original six months, by the Botswana Health Profession Council. Therefore, in light of this, Mr Goya said the sponsorship was extended by another six months.

However, Mr Goya said students were placed in smaller numbers for internships resulting in some staying longer than planned.

He said the number of students into the program since its inception was 151, and that as of January 2019 the number of active students was 50 including those completing their internship. Mr Goya indicated that 101 students had their sponsorship terminated as they obtained ‘Fail and Discontinue.’

The MP for Tlokweng Mr Masego Segokgo had asked the minister to explain why Boitekanelo College students were sponsored by DTEF to study a program that has been deferred by BQA. Mr Segokgo also asked minister to state the number of students who were enrolled in the program since its inception as well as those whose sponsorships were terminated. ENDS