Job Creation Still Remains A Major Challenge - Molao
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday September 17, 2018 12:11
Molao said this when officiating at Botswana Accountancy College’s (BAC) 10 years anniversary, which was recently held at the Francistown College of Education campus. Molao stated that the business school ought to play a fundamental role in the skills and human capital development of the second city and the country at large.
He implored BAC to produce graduates who are ready to contribute to the development of the country either by setting up their own companies or be productive wherever they are engaged.
“The communities within which the college operates must be empowered with relevant skills and business know-how, to acquire resources that will enable them to self-sufficiently build and grow their businesses. In turn these will boost the expansion of the economy of this city,” he said.
Molao urged BAC to consider partnering with the city council to ensure that the programmes offered at the institution are in line with the skills demand of the city and Botswana and also provide requisite skills that will contribute positively to the success of these sectors.
He said it is important for relevant stakeholders to collectively generate opportunities for work or create conducive environments for the young graduates to showcase their innovation and creativity.
When giving a background of the students’ enrolments, Molao stated that when the campus opened 10 years ago in Francistown, there were 46 students enrolled in one programme; the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).
The Shashe West MP also revealed that currently there are 579 students studying at the campus who are enrolled into eight programmes.
He noted that 400 students have graduated from the BAC campus in Francistown.
“We are also expecting 150 to graduate this year who we believe will form part of the entrepreneurs, business advisors, administrators, hospitality practitioners, computer analysts and engineers who are ready to serve the country,” said Molao.
In her remarks, BAC executive director Serty Leburu said they are going to provide diversity and fantastic student, staff and community experiences including penetrating the regional and international market.
She said they are looking forward to partnering with the Francistown Council (FCC) and with the industry to train, up skill and retool the skills needed to advance Francistown into a successful cosmopolitan city.
Leburu said employability is at core of their mandate and they look forward to working with FCC and the community at large to create opportunities for their learners in order to upscale their skills through experimental learning acquired through industrial apprenticeships.
She stated that their aim is to expand the Francistown campus and introduce more programmes in line with skills required to achieve the FCC’s 2022 vision and investment strategy.
For her part, FCC mayor Sylvia Muzila appealed to the community to assist with students’ residence facilities that will enable them to focus on their studies while residing in a comfortable environment.
She said the city is also affected by social ills such as alcohol, drug and substance abuse.
“Our greatest concern as the city council is that our youths are the most vulnerable who are involved in these activities. I would request BAC to include character building and behavioural change in their programmes to assist in inculcating desirable social ethics, morals and integrity in our youths,” she pleaded.
Muzila said they can reduce the influence of these challenges by keeping the youths engaged through various activities such as offering them apprenticeship opportunities in government departments, parastatals and private companies.