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Inquiry puts onus on MoE
STRYKER MOTLALOSO Staff Writer
12/10/2004 3:45:36 AM (GMT +2)
The Siele probe committee has recommended that the leadership at the Ministry of Education should be vigilant and thorough in guiding and monitoring the Department of Student Placement and Welfare. This will make the scandal-ridden department carry out its functions efficiently.
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The inquiry called on the Ministry to urgently implement the recommendations of the Organisation and Method Review on the proper functioning of the department. Among other issues, the probe committee called for the strengthening of the capacity of the department to ensure that it has adequate and qualified staff. The committee said that government should put in place appropriate structures to meet the different functions of the department. These included legislation that could enhance the department’s efficiency. The committee said that cost recovery measures and the adherence to the memorandum of agreement should be a priority if the department is to be efficient. It recommended that the Sponsorship Coordinating Committee should be activated so that it deals with soliciting ideas on the country’s manpower needs to give direction to the department’s training effort and achieve the objectives of the Grant/Loan Scheme. The other mandate of the Sponsorship Coordinating Committee would be to participate in the scholarship selection and review the appropriateness of memorandum of agreement. The probe committee said the Ministry of Education should review the use of bridge or foundation courses as a requirement for students to be admitted to South African institutions. The thrust of the review should entail immediate negations between Botswana and South African qualifications authority for assessment of Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGSE) in relation to how it fits with the Matric Qualification System. The probe committee said that both the Ministries of Education and Foreign Affairs should open talks aimed at opening a Permanent Joint Commission with South Africa. Such a forum could strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries on matters regarding Batswana students studying in South Africa. The inquiry recommended that the Ministry of Education should sub-warrant funds disbursed to Botswana foreign missions for scholarships and other students’ expenses for better control and accounting. It was recommended that the Department of Student Placement and Welfare should outsource some of its functions. The probe committee called for the cancellation of the Ingwe Medical Insurance Scheme with immediate effect. Then government should put a tender for a more effective health scheme, the committee said.
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