11 Feb 2020

Parliament has been informed that government has been carrying out cyclic maintenance in some technical colleges, which includes the provision of some facilities for students living with disabilities.

Minister of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development, Mr Mpho Balopi said cyclic maintenance was carried out in Maun Technical College, which included the provision of ramps, toilets and lowering of door handles for persons living with disabilities, while similar maintenance processes were being carried out in Palapye and Selebi Phikwe Technical Colleges.

According to Mr Balopi, the original building plans for some of the technical colleges did not include provision for people living with disabilities.

Mr Balopi further said that the Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education (FCTVE), had been provided with ramps and elevators to enable students on wheel chairs to access upper floors of the buildings. He also noted that despite the maintenance provisions that had been made, there were no plans to build facilities for persons living with disability in technical colleges in the Northern part of Botswana, noting that this was not catered for in the National Development Plan 11.

The minister further stated that government remained committed to the development of vocational training provision that meet the needs of disadvantage and vulnerable young people and adults.

Minister Balopi was answering a question from Dr Never Tshabang, who wanted the minister to update Parliament on the disabled students’ facilities in technical colleges in the Northern part of Botswana and to state if he was aware that there were no such facilities in those areas.

The MP also sought clarification on whether there were any plans to build such facilities in those areas and the minister was also to state the policy regarding facilities specifically designed for students in technical colleges. ENDS