Botho University gives gov’t value for money –Maele
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday June 19, 2026 11:16
Maele early this week toured the university's laboratories, innovation hubs, classrooms and other facilities, where he was introduced to various academic programmes, practical learning initiatives and technological innovations being undertaken by students and staff. Speaking after the tour and presentations, Maele said Botho University stands out among the institutions he has visited since assuming office. 'This is our 16th institution to visit, and I can tell you that you have made my day today because I am seeing what we call a university. Looking at the infrastructure and equipment that Botho University has, I am comfortable that we are getting value for money,' he said. Maele said one of his priorities has been to build closer relations with private Education and Training Providers (ETPs), noting that there had previously been a disconnect between the Ministry and private institutions. 'Private ETPs were a bit aloof from the Ministry. For me, that was not a healthy situation. I want to see where we spend our money and whether we are getting value for that investment,' he said. The Minister said the government currently sponsors thousands of students across both public and private institutions, making it critical to assess the return on investment. At Botho University alone, the government sponsors over 2,500 students. Maele said higher education remains central to the government's efforts to address unemployment, particularly among young people.
'We are transforming higher education because we believe doing so will transform the lives of our young people. If we develop skills for this nation, we will have graduates who can go out there, start businesses, employ themselves and employ others,' he said. He challenged institutions to ensure their graduates are industry-ready by working closely with employers in curriculum development. 'The industry is telling us that some graduates are not industry-ready. We need institutions to work closely with industry so that graduates leave university with the skills employers need,' he said. For her part, Botho University Vice Chancellor, Dr Sheela Raja Ram, said the institution's priorities are aligned with the government's goals of graduate employability, affordable quality education, innovation and entrepreneurship. She said Botho University, which will celebrate its 30th anniversary next year, operates campuses in Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini, while also serving students through its online campus.
The university offers programmes from certificate level to PhD and currently serves thousands of students across its campuses. Raja Ram highlighted the institution's P30 million scholarship initiative, which supports women in STEM fields, students from disadvantaged backgrounds, first-generation university students and refugees. She also shared findings from a recent graduate tracer study involving graduates from Botswana, Lesotho and the university's online campus. According to the study, 98 percent of graduates said they would recommend Botho University, while 98.7 percent of employers expressed satisfaction with graduates and interns from the institution. Raja Ram said Botho University's focus on employability is driven by industry-informed curricula, internships, dual-learning programmes and work-integrated learning initiatives. She further outlined the university's vision for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), identifying opportunities in renewable energy, electric vehicle technology, robotics, cyber security, health informatics and agri-technology. The Vice Chancellor also called for stronger collaboration between government and private institutions, curriculum flexibility and enhanced support for innovation-driven education.
Meanwhile, Maele encouraged tertiary institutions to diversify their revenue streams through research, innovation and attracting international students rather than relying heavily on government funding. He said universities should be able to demonstrate their impact through research outputs, successful alumni and graduate employability. The Minister also announced that the 2026 government sponsorship cycle will be launched on July 6, with students expected to apply through a new digital sponsorship platform. He said institutions should intensify their marketing efforts ahead of the sponsorship cycle, as students will have greater flexibility in choosing where they wish to study. Maele concluded by describing Botho University as a strategic national asset capable of helping Botswana export education services across the region. The visit formed part of the Minister's ongoing nationwide tour of higher education institutions aimed at strengthening relations between the Ministry and education providers whilst assessing the quality of programmes and infrastructure.