17 Mar 2022

Botho university, Limkokwing University, Boitekanelo College, New Era College, the Institute of Development Management (IDM) and other tertiary institutions this week launched a national tertiary institutions roadshow at Galo Mall in Francistown to engage with illegible students for the 2022/23 intake.

Launching the roadshow, Francistown mayor, Mr Godisang Radisigo said over 5 000 students had been admitted in various institutions since the beginning of the initiative.

He said the roadshow would not only expose students to potential careers they could pursue, but also equip them with financial literacy and other services.

Mr Radisigo said the public and private tertiary institutions, in partnership with Access Bank, would offer sponsorships worth P5.2 million for the 2022/23 academic year and he commended the initiative.

He also noted that it was the first event they held in the north east region that enabled a lot of applicants who were unable to travel to Gaborone for career fairs to get information they would otherwise not have access to.

Baisago University campus manager, Mr Lucky Molato, said this year’s roadshow started on March 7 and was different from previous ones due to its primary purpose.

He said the roadshow was not only to give students a platform and access to tertiary institutions, but also to eliminate challenges that previous applicants encountered.

Mr Molato said they understood and acknowledged challenges that some students were faced with that included funds to travel to Gaborone to get information on applications.

“We are trying to kill the spirit of competition between institutions in the industry and allow applicants to be aware of  career choices instead of learners being lured into choosing a school or course,” he said.

The chairperson of the education sector at Business Botswana, who is also the vice chancellor of Botho University, Mr Golekane Setume, said Botswana was one of the few country’s that still offered sponsorship for pursuing different careers. He also said the government has a strategic partnership with education providers in public and private institutions.

He noted that there has been a reduction in the number of students being sent abroad to pursue higher education and an increase in the enrolment rate at the national level.

Mr Setume said the free sponsorship would leave a lasting impression on the nation and he reminded applicants to take note of the deadline. He said free sponsorship would be offered to those who did not meet the required cut off points by government tertiary institutions.

The chairperson of the roadshow committee and marketing manager at IDM, Mr Chris Moiketsi, said the roadshow started in 2014 with the aim of promoting programmes..

He said 18 member institutions launched the event under the theme: Promoting a seamless partnership in tertiary education. ENDS