22 Sep 2013

A responsive education and training plays a critical role in the modern world in order to develop a quality, agile and competitive human resource that is intended to serve at local, regional and international levels, Minister of Health, Dr John Seakgosing has said.

Delivering a keynote address at the combined graduation ceremony for affiliated training institutions of the University of Botswana, Dr Seakgosing said the occasion added value to government as it built on the skilled workforce.

“It is only when we have personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge that we can be able to effectively and efficiently deliver quality services to the nation,” he noted. A total of 1 944 graduates were graduating from colleges of education, health training institutions and Botswana College of Engineering and Technology.

The minister said despite limited resources, institutions had managed to produce the graduates through commitment, sacrifice and innovation by the different faculties.

He said the theme: Developing quality Human Resource Through Responsive Education and Training, was relevant in that government had identified education and training as a key strategy for continued development of quality human resource. He further indicated that it was necessary that the nation considered human resource as an asset and a resource that was key to the development of the nation.

Again, he said financial commitment from government and other sectors for human resource development was important because it (human resource) facilitated responsive education and training. He said responsive delivery of high quality education and training should be responding to the skills need of the labour force of the country.

Meanwhile, Dr Seakgosing told the gathering that some tertiary training institutions would be upgrading programmes from diploma to degree. He explained that institutions would rationalise programmes to create specialised centre of excellence in order to realise the academic transformations.

Thus, he urged graduates to read widely and keep abreast with emerging trends to enhance their knowledge and skill. “I further urge you to serve the nation diligently with Botho. Congratulations on your success. Good luck in your future endeavours,” he said. ENDS