Masisi promises students swift response
Mpho Mokwape | Friday September 21, 2018 14:24
Masisi, who promised to respond within two weeks, made the promise on Monday at Ba Isago University when he met with tertiary students at a meeting organised by Youth Need a Voice (YNV) movement.
During his address after the students’ leaders expressed their concerns and challenges, Masisi assured them that the government would do its best to listen and respond to their challenges on time.
“A dialogue is very important and I am pleased that you managed to present your grievances in a constructive manner by engaging us. It is important at times to resolve issues by engaging constructively, a meeting at a table is sometimes all that is needed.
Also a response is not always yes or the one you expected, but it does not mean there should be a war,” he said.
Earlier on, the Ba Isago Student Representative Council (SRC) president Mmirwa Basupile on behalf of all tertiary institutions laid before the President some of the challenges faced by tertiary students. He said some of the biggest challenges were unaccredited courses that the ministry continues to sponsor nonetheless, a non-conducive learning environment and problems with the bank liaising with the ministry for allowances.
“The government needs to take a stand when it comes to spending money on unaccredited courses because at the end it is not only the students that suffer but also that the tax payer’s money is going to waste,” he said.
Basupile also complained about the inadequate living allowance saying that like any other citizen they are affected by inflation. He further requested the government to look into the agreement they made with First National Bank Botswana on account that they are feeling the pitch of the bank’s charges.
YNV president Poloko Pitwane expressed during his address concern at how they sometimes approach challenges as the youth. He explained that the YNV has tasked itself to address youth issues in a respectable manner by engaging relevant authorities.
“There is nothing wrong with demonstrations and at times they are needed but should not be taken as the first resort, we should learn to address each other in a dialogue before we move on to other means,” he said. On other issues he complained to the President about the questionable quality of lecturers in tertiary institutions saying that on its own it affects the quality of graduates.