17 Jun 2020

There is a likelihood of a decrease in this year’s tertiary institutions intake due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the economy.

Minister of Tertiary Education, Research and Technology, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe told the media on Tuesday that applications for sponsorship would be opened in various areas of the country soon to ease the process.

The minister also acknowledged that attachment of students was disrupted by lockdown.

He however reassured students, particularly those enrolling in  Institute of Health Sciences, that they would begin their attachments this week.

Dr Letsholathebe said most institutions in the country are ready to resume classes under the new normal with some having opened in the past week.

He said after touring some, he was impressed with their level of readiness and measures put in place to receive progressing students.The ministry would continue touring the country next week to gauge progress made thus far by both private and government institutions, he said.

The ministry’s obligation was to ensure that students received learning without compromising their health. For her part, Botswana Qualifications Authority, chief executive officer, Dr Botsalano Mosimakoko said it was the institution’s responsibility to ensure commitment to satisfying learners’ needs at all costs.

She emphasised that as institutions made interventions in delivering teaching to students in the new normal era, they should ensure that every student would have access to the mode of teaching enforced.

In addition, she implored institutions to administer teaching which was technically safe. ENDS