BQA, SRCs move towards MoU

Innocent Selatlhwa | Tuesday March 15, 2016 14:51

 

The two parties met on Friday to educate each other on their roles and responsibilities, structures and also to establish a working relationship.

The meeting came as tertiary education learners countrywide fight their institutions, both public and private, over a range of issues including the credibility of qualifications, quality of learning environments, among others.

Some of the unrests turned violent, leading to the intervention of law enforcement.

BQA CEO, Abel Modungwa, said the workshop was a step in the right direction to structure the BQA-NSRC partnership and address student issues amicably.

The meeting was held to solicit NSRC input into the BQA Learner Protection Policy and also to lay the ground for drafting and signing of a BQA-NSRC MoU.

“Of late there have been a number of students unrest events across the country,” he said.

“This is a worrying trend and I would like to assure learners and all stakeholders that BQA will not condone non-compliance by education and training providers.

“The BQA will do all it can within its power to address student concerns within reasonable time.”

Modungwa said students were the BQA’s primary stakeholders, hence the Learner Protection Policy. He said the BQA exists for learners and will work closely with them to ensure that they know “what is happening; why things are happening the way they are; how and when they will happen, where and for who.”

“This will reduce to a large extent student’s complaints and will promote ownership of the system. Students will know their roles and will take responsibility for their education and training,” he said.

NSRC interim secretary general, Blessing Lechane, said NSRC will bring forth a better way of dealing with issues which will guide all SRCs in different institutions.

He said they will work in such a way that they follow protocol in terms of raising their grievances. Lechane, who is also the Botho University SRC president, said they were confident that the collaboration with BQA will help in ensuring that students receive quality education.