Parents panic as Top Achievers' sponsorship delays
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Monday August 9, 2021 06:26
The Top Achievers sponsorship programme was introduced by the government in 2010. Its aim is to motivate young people to excel in their studies, gain recognition and learn at prestigious institutions locally and abroad, where they get access to the best opportunity to realise their full potential in a different environment.
The Top Achievers are chosen from public and private schools based on their IGCSE/BGCSE results from the national cohort and admitted to universities of their choice.
While government has consistently and regularly awarded scholarships to deserving top-performing students in the past, there is confusion this time around as to whether the status quo would maintain as they still await updates from government on the sponsorships.
Some parents, who spoke to Mmegi on condition of anonymity, said the government’s silence has raised anxiety and panic amongst them. The concerned parents say they are in the dark as to whether government would extend the sponsorship to their children this term. They are also wondering whether the government has not abandoned the programme.
“We have been waiting for contact from the government. We are in the dark as to whether our children would be sponsored to study abroad as has been the norm in the past. We are anxious and worried because no one is saying anything to us,” said one parent.
The concerned parents say their children stand to miss some learning time since some university academic calendars have long begun.
The issue has not only affected those going to study abroad. Top Achievers who have to go further into Form Six at local private institutions are also affected as the academic calendars at those institutions have also started.
Some local private institutions have also raised concerns about the delays at the Department of Tertiary Education Funding (DTEF). Others say in most cases, they are forced to admit the students before they even receive their sponsorship acceptance letters with the expectation that they would receive their tuition once DTEF opens the sponsorship cycle.
The Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology has allayed fears that the Top Achievers programme has been abandoned.
In a written response to Mmegi enquiry, the ministry’s spokesperson Silas Sehularo conceded they were aware that there is anxiety and panic amongst those affected. However, he said the ministry is working behind the scenes to open the sponsorship cycle.
“Yes, the ministry is well aware and this is why it has issued a public notice on July 6, 2021 on the status of the 2021-2022 sponsorship cycle for the benefit of both the public and the Education and Training providers,” Sehularo said.
“Preparations for the 2021-2022 sponsorship cycle are ongoing and the public will be duly informed once the process has been concluded for the potential learners to apply for consideration.”
In the public notice that Sehularo referred to, which was issued on July 6, the ministry said the 2021-2022 sponsorship cycle for new placements has not been activated yet.
Without giving any reasons as to the cause of the delay, the ministry said it was mindful of the academic calendars of institutions and assured the public and other stakeholders that processes for the activation of sponsorship applications are being expedited.
According to the ministry, the process described for prospective students does not affect continuing students and thus, advised continuing students to contact or report to their institutions as normal.