03 Feb 2014

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) will be officially launched on April 1.

The HRDC commenced work in November last year following the publication of an order by the Minister of Education and Skills Development (MoESD). This meant that the Tertiary Education Act of 1999 had been repealed by the expanded mandate of the HRDC. The HRDC will act independently in provision of policy advice to MoESD on all policy matters of the National Human Resource Development (NHRD).

Planning functions would include the development of the NHRD plan. Advisory functions include the council’s provision of advice to government through the minister on human resource development policy.

Regulatory functions would include the registration, accreditation of tertiary education institutions and work-placed learning providers, quality assurance, setting and enforcement of institutional standards as well as regulating such institutions generally. Tertiary institutions registered and accredited by Tertialry Education Council shall continue under the HRDC until the time it is appropriate to carry them across to the newly established body charged with such responsibility known as the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA).

During the transformation exercise, HRDC will continue to register and accredit tertiary institutions offering diploma programmes and above.

BQA will deal with all policy matters related to national credit and qualification frameworks and undertake a delegated executive responsibility to develop and implement the national credit and qualifications framework. The qualification authority will also develop and implement a national regulatory system for education and skills development, which shall include the core functions of registration and accreditation as well as quality assurance. ENDS