05 Mar 2020

Learning institutions have been challenged to ensure students have a defined career path.

First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) Maun branch manager, Ms Kelebogile Disang who was speaking at the 2nd Botswana Human Resource Development Skills (BHDS) fair held in Maun on Wednesday observed that it was critical for institutions to have a strategy in place that would help to ascertain students’ success and employability.

She said that could be achieved through having students’ profiles, which detail their attributes and passion.

The BHDS, she said, was purported to assist students to make informed career choices based on one’s passion, abilities and demands of the labour markert.Ms Disang advised students to be open-minded when choosing careers.

For instance, she said financial institutions were not absorbing accounts and finance graduates only, but rather graduates from other disciplines such as Information Communication and Technology (ICT) and Engineering.

She said as the country was on about the Fourth Industry Revolution, that meant ICT graduates were critical to every sector of the industry, noting that such graduates could be absorbed by the Financial Institutions and other sectors of the industry.

Ms Disang further appreciated stakeholders who made the BHDS Fair in Maun possible through their support, as the fair was initially Gaborone-based for over 10 years.

She also said bringing the services and institutions to learners in the North West District, it showed commitment by the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC).

HRDC chief operations officer, Mr Meshack Tafa said the Skills Fair and Career Clinics by HRDC was meant to supplement existing career guidance and counselling initiatives.

Mr Tafa observed that HRDC had at a higher level provided training to Guidance and Counselling Teachers on Career Guidance, developed learners guide on careers  and also supported the Ministry of Basic Education through the Department of Special Support Services.

The fair, he therefore said, was a platform for all stakeholders in the education sector to meet.

“We have both national, international Education Training Providers, the industry, youth based organisations and learners,” he said.

Mr Tafa noted that the fair also guided learners to some priority occupations and skills such as Science, Technology and Mathematics as well as vocational and technical skills.

He observed that it was worrisome that Batswana still relied on expatriates on some skills, which then increased the import bill and would hamper Botswana’s wish to move to a high income country if not curbed. ENDS