JTC regains status after accreditation
Lebogang Baingapi | Friday May 12, 2017 12:14
The school principal, Modiri Mogopa assured aspiring students during a consultative workshop on Wednesday that current students should remain calm as the college received its renewed licence last year and intend to open for the August 2017 enrolment with additional courses.
The college operated illegally from 2014 to 2016 and Mogopa admitted that they lost their reputation and the college could not enrol as expected.
“It was not easy for us as the college to engage stakeholders because we were operating illegally but we are now ready to restore the dignity and uphold the ministry’s mission of transforming to a skill resource institution of competitive individuals on a skills based economy, ”he said.
Mogopa said the college could not plead for any assistance from companies and some companies could not bring their employees for training and claim a training levy because their college was not accredited.
He said the lack of accreditation was a setback as there were no funds to maintain the infrastructure and machineries. The college which was built in 1987, is one the oldest and has also been struggling to adhere to the requirements to transit to the new requirement.
“The outcry of the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC) has been skill mismatch, unaligned competencies and failing to provide blending between theory and practicals as well as inadequate bench marking from other institutions, ”he added.
Mogopa however highlighted that they were delighted that the market has been absorbing their students in large numbers especially after the industrial attachment. He said that they intend to collaborate with potential stakeholders in shaping vocational education.
The college has potential to accommodate a maximum of 400 students but currently it has an enrolment of 100 students under bricklaying, carpentry, electrical, accounting, secretary and painting courses.
The principal said they expect to offer a total of 16 courses in their August enrolment. He said the economy of Botswana is artisan driven and the JTC will strive to be the best in feeding local mines with skilled labour.
Still at the workshop, the Member of Parliament for Jwaneng/ Mabutsane, Shawn Ntlhaile also emphasised the need to establish the college to be a mining school of excellence to feed the Jwaneng Mine.
He said residents around Jwaneng should tap in to benefit from both the mine and the college.