18 Aug 2025

Parliament has been told that two students lost their lives in aviation tragedies. 

Responding to a question from Kgatleng Central MP, Mr Mpho Morolong, the Minister of Higher Education, Mr Prince Maele said one student lost his life in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2006 while the other, under the International Aviation solutions (IAS) lost his life in 2017. 

He noted that, unfortunately, their families were not compensated, as there was no policy guidance on the matter. On the status of life cover insurance for the trainees, Minister Maele noted that the two aviation training institutions in the country had insurance cover. He said for New Generations Aviation Professional Academy, all learners and staff were covered under the mandatory insurance policy taken for each aircraft. 

“This insurance policy covers for all occupants including students and instructors hurt or injured while undergoing training in the aircraft and also include third party liability,” he said. 

He said for FM-Amess, life insurance cover for training students had been taken through Dynamic Insurance Brokers. Regarding the number of operational flying aviation schools in Botswana, Minister Maele noted the two operational flying aviation schools, which had been registered and accredited by Botswana Qualification Authority(BQA). 

He said the New Generations Aviation Professional Academy was registered and accredited on December 22, 2022 while FM-Amess was registered and accredited on August 24, 2021. 

“There are in total 246 learners enrolled at FM-Ames and the students are enrolled on a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering learning programme,” he added. 

He said the programme was registered under legacy and Engineering Registration Board registers graduates. 

“New Generation Aviation Profession Academy has one accredited learning programme while Diploma in Airline and Transport Pilot Learning has no learners enrolled,” he said. 

Mr Maele further noted that there were no applications for flying aviation school pending registration by BQA. 

Mr Morolong had wanted to know the number of trainees who lost their lives in aviation tragedies, how their families were compensated, and availability of any life cover insurance for trainees. He also enquired about the total number of students enrolled in these schools as well as the number of pending applications for schools registrations. ENDS