18 Feb 2014

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development took a decision to suspend sponsorship for 14 students following class disruptions at the University of Botswana from August 20 to 21 last year.

Parliament was told on Monday, February 17 that these students were identified by university authorities as instigators of the class boycott/disruptions.

Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Patrick Masimolole said following the suspensions, the students took the matter up with the High Court in Gaborone and the matter was set for hearing on September 10, 2013.

“However, government took a decision not to contest the charges but rather to withdraw the suspension to allow the university to undertake its disciplinary process. The merits of the case were therefore never heard by the High Court,” he said. Furthermore, Mr Masimolole said pending taxation; the legal costs could not be established just yet.

The court action, he said, was avoidable but the students did not give the ministry a chance to review the decision as they immediately made an urgent application to the High Court.

MP for Gaborone Central, Mr Dumelang Saleshando had asked the minister to state the reasons that motivated the suspension of sponsorship for some UB students in August 2013 and what led to the suspension being lifted.

The legislator also wanted the minister to state the legal costs incurred by government when the matter was taken up through the courts and whether the court option was not avoidable. ENDS