Dukwi refugee top achievers may kiss their aspirations goodbye
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday May 22, 2023 06:00
Mmegi has learned that, in spite of the fact that Dukwi refugees who performed extraordinarily well in the Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Examination (BGCSE) result, which was announced earlier this year, will probably not be pursuing their desired qualifications at the universities of their choice. The top Dukwi performers have gotten placement letters from their preferred higher institutions, however the placements does not include scholarships.
The government does not provide tertiary financing for refugees.
In an interview with one of the Dukwi refugee highflyers, Ahmed Bashir, he stated that his aim was always to become a medical doctor or a pilot in order to better his family's living condition.
Bashir was born in Tutume after his family migrated to Botswana decades ago owing to a variety of obstacles, including political unrest, violence, and natural disasters. He was hopeful that his desire would become a reality when one of his old schoolmates, who also grew up in the refugee camp, received a tertiary scholarship at University of Botswana (UB) back in 2019. When the worried smart young man received a placement letter to study Civil Engineering at the UB, he stated that he was one step closer to making his ambition a reality.
To his dismay, the 20-year-old stated that he did not get financial support to pursue the course from the same institution.
"I was told that I would not be granted the sponsorship until other refugee scholarship recipients had completed their studies," he continued. With a wounded heart, Bashir realised that his desire was a pipe dream and that he would have no choice but to follow whatever tertiary opportunity was provided through Skillshare International organisation.
Skillshare International is a global volunteer and development organisation that helps Dukwi refugee children to get higher education scholarships.
He stated that he was able to obtain a placement and scholarship at Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) through the organisation. Bashir stated that while studying at BIUST is a fantastic opportunity, the courses that interest him are unavailable at the same institution.
He was hoping to earn a scholarship so that he could study what he had always wanted to do, which is to become a medical doctor or a pilot.
Mohammed Bashir, Ahmed's brother, corroborated that that his younger brother has always wished to be a medical doctor or pilot.
"I want to see my little brother pursue his dreams so that he can better his and our family's lives," he emphasised.
A refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jack Bwani (20), expressed similar thoughts to Bashir. Bwani,who attained 44 points in the 2022 BGCSE, was issued a placement letter for Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the UB, but was unable to obtain the scholarship to pursue his selected course.
He stated that with the assistance of the Skillshare organisation, he was able to obtain a full scholarship to study Computer Science and Software Engineering at BIUST.
He stated that he wished to pursue the degree at UB but that he would be unable to do so owing to lack of financial assistance.
"We were told at UB that we couldn't get a scholarship until other refugee students who received scholarships in 2019 finished their studies," he explained.
Bwani requested financial aid so that he may pursue his selected course at his most favourable and prestigious UB. One of the parents of a student who has obtained 43 points who preferred to remain anonymous shared that her daughter wanted to study medicine at UB and was admitted but did not get a scholarship.
She stated that being a refugee is a disadvantage because children are not given alternatives to follow their dreams.
" I am not in any way shunning any scholarship opportunities, I am grateful for the opportunity that BIUST is giving my daughter. I just wish she had been given the chance to study something related to her interests,” she continued.
The highflyer's mother also expressed thanks to BIUST for providing their children with the possibilities to improve on their lives, since education is a key to success.
Tutume District Council chairperson and Dukwi village councillor Thatayaone Kehitile who is close to the development, was concerned about the educational setup for refugees.
"I continue to believe that the government cannot provide free education for refugees from nursery to secondary school while failing to provide them with sponsorship for tertiary studies," he stated. Kehitile went on to say that they are losing the crème de la crème of students as a result of the same system, because most of the refugees will score well in their BGCSE and then be denied government funding.
He suggested that the same refugees, like the rest of the children, should be provided access to government sponsorship so that they can study whatever their hearts desire.
He stated that the youngsters who surpassed others are currently fighting to obtain sponsorship so that they can study their fields of interest.
Kehitile expressed gratitude to Skillshare International for constantly aiding highfliers in obtaining scholarships to study at the country's post secondary institutions.