15 Nov 2020

The Ministry of Employment, Labour Productivity and Skills Development will consider reviewing brigade students’ allowances after consultations with relevant stakeholders.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Minister Mpho Balopi admitted that the P300 allowance payable to brigades’ students was not sufficient considering the current cost of living.

He noted that the allowance offered at brigades institutions was a grant. As such, he said it could not be compared to the allowance offered at other tertiary institutions as part of the sponsorship by the Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF) which the students  had to repay upon completion of their training.

Minister Balopi also acknowledged that he was aware that some students may not have received allowances for April due to lockdown adding that student allowances for 8 825 students amounting to over P5.5 million for March and April were sent to Botswana Post on March 20.

He said 7 832 out of 8 825 students received their allowance while 992 students did not collect their allowances as of April 30.

The process of paying students owed allowances, he said was a continuous one as allowance arrears were honoured as and when institutions submitted names of students owed.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister whether there were any plans to review allowances for brigades students from the current P300. He had also asked for an update on allowance arrears for students. Ends