Phikwe Technical College loses accreditation
Onalenna Kelebeile | Saturday March 1, 2014 18:59
Selebi-Phikwe Town Council (SPTC) was told on Monday during the Urban Development Committee (UDC) Report that the technical college’s current Assessor Accreditation is only 12 percent and that it utilises the services of lecturers that are not accredited with BQA.
The college provides clothing and textile programmes, which currently have three groups, construction which has five groups, business which has three groups, electrical which has three more groups, automotive which has four and ICT having three BTEP groups.
The UDC report that was presented by District Officer-Development Neo Mogorosi shows that BQA (formerly BOTA) wrote to the college in December last year warning it against violating the Vocational Training Act by continuing to offer technical and vocational education and training though it failed to conform to accreditation requirement.
This prompted councillors to suggest that the Minister of Education and Skills Development Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi should come and address them on the status of the technical college.
Councillor Dorcus Letlhogela said that what is shown by the report is in contrast to what they had anticipated. She said they are still awaiting the college’s expansion that was reported in 2010.
Councillor Leungo Mathaio also said the minister must seriously look at the issue of the college’s accreditation as she felt that the college is in a state of chaos.
She also said councillors must tour the college as well as all preschools to monitor adherence to regulations as she said there is a serious challenge of government failing to live up to expectations yet quick to take action against privately owned pre-schools.
Meanwhile councillors were not keen on the hoisting of the national flag on telecommunication towers as they felt there are no benefits gained from doing that. The initiative is part of the countdown to Botswana’s 50th anniversary and already 120 flags have been hoisted on BTC towers.
Councillor Bathaedi Mponwane said they are yet to see achievements towards Vision 2016 and said money used towards the anniversary celebrations could have been used to expand a primary school in Damuchujenaa.
Councillor Lekang Mukokomani concurred.
“Hoisting of flags on towers is not wrong as it shows pride but those towers do not host people.