Give students a second chance - BIUST VC
Onalenna Kelebeile | Tuesday January 21, 2014 17:24
Speaking during the university’s National Guidance and Counsellors Open Day in Palapye last week, Professor Inyang said there were contributing factors that may cause students to fail in the first attempt.
He cited failure of exposure to career guidance and counselling that can enable them identify their potential.
He added that some students have social problems but lacked proper advice from guidance counsellors.
He emphasised that a second chance can bring out good things from students rather than closing doors on them.Inyang said his university attaches so much importance to guidance and counselling. He said they will continue to engage guidance and counselling teachers.
He added that the study of science on its own presents a challenge and it is costly.
He further said: “BIUST does not work in silos but has opened doors to other programmes.”
He added that economic diversification cannot be possible with highly skilled manpower alone, hence the need to promote engines to drive that economy.
He noted that minerals would at some point deplete hence the need to identify and offer other options.
He stated that this year in September BIUST would be awarding scholarships and internships to the highest performing high school students who seek admission to the school.
“The same incentive is extended to all first class and some second class upper graduates in the country,” he said.
He added that students from elsewhere who can justify that they can do better than their earned grades are encouraged to apply as well.
He noted that BIUST has started the process of bringing back Batswana who were sponsored by government to complete advanced degrees in universities overseas.
“We have identified 34 of them so far and brought back two who have completed their studies.
“Four more will join BIUST by May while others will join our programmes directly at the same rate,” he added.
He further stated that BIUST was determined not only to remove the relationship gap between the academia and the industries, but also to bridge the gap between itself and high schools.
He said through the event, the university will continue collaborating and maintaining the consultative forum with guidance and counselling teachers from high schools at both public and private secondary schools.
Meanwhile Professor Inyang said that no economic diversification efforts could succeed without the input of Small Micro and Medium Enterprise (SMME)
He emphasised that this sector needed to be nurtured.
The institution will next year operate technology extension and outreach centres in every district to support SMMEs and identify talent.