18 Nov 2020

Although it is a noble endeavour for the government to invest heavily in educating Batswana at the tertiary level, much more could be achieved if the citizenry assisted the government by contributing to non-tuition expenses.

Tati East MP and also the Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe expressed these views when contributing to the ongoing debate on the State-of-the-Nation Address on Tuesday.

Dr Letsholathebe said the country had benefited immensely from the human capital produced by the sponsorship of tertiary education by the government. He urged for a national discourse on how those Batswana who can afford could assist.

“We could continue sponsoring the tuition of qualifying Batswana students across the board, but perhaps those parents who can afford could assist the government by, for example, taking over the monthly stipend given to students.  Only those students really in need will continue getting the monthly student allowance,” Dr Letsholathebe said.

He explained that the amount saved could cumulatively be enough to extend the tuition sponsorship to more students at the undergraduate level. In this way, he said the government could send more Batswana to pursue post-graduate masters and doctorate programmes.

Dr Letsholathebe observed that institutions such as Botswana Unified Revenue Service (BURS) could assist with information on families who need the current student allowance.

“I am aware that there are many students who struggle even with the current stipend.  But if a parent earns P40 000 and the government covers the tuition fee, surely the parent can cater for the child’s other expenses.

It is a discussion we should have as a nation,” Dr Letsholathebe said.

Noting that the COVID-19 pandemic had produced the worst global economic crisis since the great depression of the 1930s, Dr Letsholathebe said there was need for collective effort across sectors to revive the economy.

He said the government’s Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan recently approved by Parliament as part of the eleventh National Development Plan (NDP 11) mid-term review had the right tone to revive the country’s economic fortunes.

Dr Letsholathebe said the North East district needed agricultural programmes that were specific to the area, including the rehabilitation of boreholes for irrigation purposes and government support for different types of crops better suited for the area. ENDS