Only 30% of graduates employed in the last six years

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Monday March 30, 2015 16:23

Answering a question from Okavango MP Bagalatia Arone, the assistant Minister in the Office of the President, Philip Makgalemele said there were, however, strategies in place to address the problem.

He explained that government has collaborated with other stakeholders in order to come up with different initiatives to address the challenge of unemployment.  Makgalemele added that the introduction of youth empowerment programmes is a top priority for the government.  

He revealed that the government has introduced the National Internship, Botswana National Service programmes and Youth Development Fund, among others to help to curb the high rate of unemployment.  “More than 4, 500 interns are currently enrolled in the programme with over quarter of them being permanently absorbed.

12 000 young people have been enrolled for National Service while 120 projects have been funded under Youth Development Fund with an amount exceeding P100 million,” he said.Makgalemele said the Young Farmers Fund has so far financed 597 projects to the tune of P239 million resulting in the creation of 2386 jobs.  The assistant minister revealed that graduates with vocational skills have also been assisted in the formation of companies to undertake construction maintenance and rehabilitate government facilities.  He said companies owned by youth benefit from the 15 percent maintenance reservation programme.