Nkate was speaking in Parliament yesterday when he tabled a report of a committee of inquiry into allegations of irregular administrative practices in the department. Nkate said the committee found that there had been incidents of inefficiency, inconsistency, lack of attention to details, delays and sometimes arbitrariness in the application of established procedures.
He said the inquiry noted that: the department was understaffed at middle management level to carry out is functions of processing applications, selection and placement of students.
At times, the department used temporary staff, which compromised efficiency, professionalism, security and sensitivity of information in the operations of the department.
Since 1998-1999, the department had been under pressure and overwhelmed by the workload caused by increased output from senior secondary schools. This was exacerbated by the double intake arising from the abolition of Tirelo Sechaba.
Officers in the department do not have sufficient time to reflect on policies, procedures and guidelines due to pressure of work exerted by the need to meet closing dates of universities.
The Organisation and Methods Review of the department conducted in 1999 identified remedial measures to address the deficiencies, which were being implemented slowly, largely due to the need to follow laid down procedures.
Nkate told Parliament about his ministry’s response to the recommendations by the committee of inquiry. The minister told Parliament that the department has been restructured and this had led to a significant recovery of loans.
He said the guidelines governing award of sponsorships and student loans disbursement have been developed. Information brochures on application for sponsorship processes and selection criteria have been produced.
Nkate noted that the selection of students for sponsorship has been computerised, thus speeding up the process and attaining objectivity.
He said his ministry is still experiencing capacity constraints that they continue to address with the support of all stakeholders.
The committee of inquiry into the Department of Student Placement and Welfare was appointed following a motion by the MP for Sebina/Gweta and Assistant Minister, Oliphant Mfa in 2002. Mfa alleged that there was favouritism in the award of scholarships by the department. He claimed that some children from well-to-do families were awarded bursaries to study overseas even when they did not qualify.
He said one candidate from his constituency was struck off a list of students, who were to study medicine and replaced by a child of a University of Botswana (UB) academic. He said the child of the UB employee, did not even qualify for the course.
At some stage, Mfa crossed swords with the former Minister of Education, George Kgoroba who claimed that Mfa was trying to blackmail him. Kgoroba said Mfa told him that he could only withdraw his motion, if his daughter was awarded a scholarship to study in the United States. But Mfa vehemently denied Kgoroba’s claims.
However, Mfa refused to testify before the committee because he felt that it was composed of mostly officials from the Ministry of Education. He said he did not have confidence in the committee.
