14 Feb 2022

 Universities and colleges have been challenged to put in place internal processes for ensuring programme quality.

“The idea is not to churn out high numbers of graduates every year but to produce graduates who possessed the skill as depicted by their qualifications and meet employability criteria,” said Minister of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology Dr Douglas Letsholathebe.

Speaking during the opening of Gaborone University College (GUC) of Law and Professional Studies’ new campus in Francistown recently, he therefore encouraged the institution to observe quality through review of programmes to meet industry needs.

GUC was also advised to engage in regular consultation with other industry players to find ways through which graduates could remain relevant to the world of work.

Over the past years, Dr Letsholathebe noted, Botswana’s tertiary education sector had expanded rapidly.

“As skills development remains government priority, we embrace participation of both private and public institutions through funding learners in all accredited higher institutions,” he said.

He hailed GUC for adapting to the changing times through  its  blended education programmes of both face-to-face and computer-based teaching.

The move, he said, would increase access as many learners were mature and preferred to learn where they worked or lived rather than commute to classes.

Dr Letsholathebe explained that the mode of teaching and learning was the current way of delivering on 21st century skills and digital culture.

Today’s job market required people with a positive attitude, who were not afraid of failure but capable of turning failure into success, he said.

To GUC management and board, Dr Letsholathebe expressed gratitude for their decision to expand operations to the northern part of Botswana.

“Your presence here will increase access to education by people not only in Francistown but in the North East, Bobonong, Selebi Phikwe, Mmadimare and Tutume up to the Chobe region,” he said.

GUC managing director Dr Antoney Joseph said in less than 15 years, the institution had established three campuses  in Gaborone and a fourth in Mmopane.

The Mmopane Campus offered practical programmes such as construction, plumbing, mechanics and electronics aimed at empowering youths with the necessary skills for penetrating technical industries.

GUC board of governors chairperson Professor Bernard Moswela said the fact that private institutions outnumbered government universities augured well for Public Private Partnerships. Ends