21 Jul 2020

Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research Science and Technology is coordinating efforts to assist 150 students who have not been able to complete their aviation studies.

In an investigation which has dragged on for over five years where International Aviation Solutions (IAS) could not continue training for students who enrolled in 2013, Minister Douglas Letsholathebe says the school has since been placed under judicial management while the Auditor General was still investigating the matter.

Speaking during a press briefing in Gaborone recently, Dr Letsholathebe acknowledged that the investigation had taken too long, citing mitigating factors as the root cause of the delay.

He expressed concern for students who had been in limbo for five years unable to further their education, noting that the Ministry was doing its best to expedite investigations and come up with a beneficial solution for the students.

Dr Letsholathebe said he could not divulge why the school could not graduate the students, fearing that he would be pre-empting details of an ongoing investigation.

He cautioned that while IAS allegedly argued that it was owed P18 million by the Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF), the outcome would be shown by Auditor General investigations report.

The minister also refuted allegations that students were thrown in the lurch, saying that all accreditation processes were followed prior to enrolling students at the academy.

He noted, however, that a decision had been made on the resumption of outstanding components of study for the students, which would be facilitated by DTEF starting September 2020.

“Government will weigh all options with input from accreditation authorities such as Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA), DTEF and the Civil Aviation Authority Botswana (CAAB) on the means of sending students to regional academies,” he said.

To ensure that the affected students were sent to the best schools, the minister noted that his ministry and affiliated stakeholders would ensure compliance to all training protocols.

He said the ministry had sent delegations to South Africa last year to ensure listed training institutions were fully compliant before a decision could be finalised.

Moreover, the minister said that while financing had been made for the students, modal of accounting would be implemented upon the completion of the Auditor General’s investigation.

The Director of DTEF, Ms Neo Sebolao revealed that P152 million had been injected into sponsorship of students at the school previously.

She could not, however, give a definite answer on the amount that would be needed for the students to resume training on the remaining components of study since the decision was still under consideration.

She, however, noted that aviation training was a costly exercise, which could not be given a definite value since training services varied.

Meanwhile, the CEO of BQA Ms Botsalano Mosimakoko noted that the IAS was no longer under BQA accreditation since the accreditation expired in 2019 and could not be renewed due to the fact that the Academy was under Judicial Management. ENDS