11 Apr 2020

Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, science and Technology, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe has said government will continue giving students their living allowances during the state of emergency.

Addressing a media conference via Skype Saturday, April 11, Dr Letsholathebe appealed to Education Training Providers and other stakeholders in the education sector to come on board and assist government fight the impact of the COVID-19 scourge. 

He said his ministry had been in consultation with all stakeholders since the outbreak of the coronavirus. 

Dr Letsholathebe said they were awaiting the decision of the senate and councils of local tertiary institutions to map the way forward as far as student assessment was concerned. 

He noted that permits for students abroad would be extended and allowances for ongoing projects would be assessed on a case by case basis. 

The minister said government had paid private institutions of learning and therefore the institutions were expected to fully pay their employees.

He explained that the ministry's research and technology resources were put towards efforts to curb the spread of the virus. Dr Letsholathebe admitted that innovation was expensive and there was need to invest on it. 

Dr Letsholathebe said BITRI was working on an application to enable Batswana to apply for permits from the comfort of their homes.

He said they were in talks with Internet service providers to assist in remote learning. 

He further said the ministry encouraged schools to use e-learning during the state of emergency.

On other issues, he said the department of counselling at the University of Botswana was offering counseling for those who might need it during the extreme distancing period. Ends