Engineers drag feet on registration
Isaac Pinielo | Friday September 16, 2016 15:48
The ERB stated on Tuesday that the majority of engineering professionals eligible are yet to register, with less than half of them doing so in its first year of operation.
Figures released this week by the board revealed that only 2,239, or 41%, of the 5,500 estimated population of engineers in Botswana expected to register had done so, leading to fears that many are operating illegally.
The board’s chief executive officer, Dennis Olaotse cited the lack of support from key stakeholders and partners as one reason for the ERB not achieving registration targets.
“Inability to influence eligible registrants to register with the board has resulted in inability to achieve revenue targets for ERB,” he said.
The other reason, he said, is misinterpretation of categories of registration by employers, which he said has resulted in specific groups being disadvantaged by companies when making employment decisions.
Olaotse noted that there is limited ability to execute the ERB mandate based on lack of collective experience of staff, adding that the board risks losing credibility with stakeholders as a result of poor monitoring and enforcement.
He further indicated that the board seeks to register 90% of the eligible ‘pool’ of engineering professionals in the country.
The engineers are registered in different categories, graduate, registered and professional, and in various disciplines including civil, mechanical, mining, telecommunications, electrical and electronics, and many more.
He said ERB held its strategic review exercise early this year that marked the end of its first strategic plan and transition into the next phase, which is monitoring.
The CEO pointed out that the board’s intention to put together a stringent regulatory framework that will result in achieving ethics amongst engineering professionals and how the practice of engineering will be conducted.
“The new strategic plan aims to achieve three high level strategic themes, being registration of engineering professionals, reduced malpractice and negligence, and achieving financial sustenance,” Olaotse said.