Sponsorship changes to come gradually-MoE

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Wednesday February 10, 2010 00:00

Deputy permanent secretary in the Education Ministry, Golekanye Setume who is responsible for the department of tertiary education said that any major changes that they implement would have to be informed by research, recommendations and consultations.

He said while the Evaluation Service Team - Botswana (BEST) was calling for cost sharing in tertiary institutions last November, such changes would have to be introduced gradually, picking up momentum with the implementations.

He explained that whatever they will do cannot be done overnight and will be informed by the policy shift. 'Change is a process,' he said.  Setume's remarks are in response to sponsorship information posted on the ministry's website last year.

The website last December posted information accredited to acting  permanent  secretary,  Baeti Molake which detailed certain reforms which were necessitated by declining government revenues resulting from the adverse economic down turn.

These reforms, to begin this financial year 2010/2011, included cost sharing, adjustments on living allowances, financial assessment of students and their parents, reduction of numbers to be sponsored abroad, selective choice of programmes and institutions of study for students and optimizing spaces available at the local Technical and Vocational Colleges.

On the website Molake explained that the reforms focused on expanding opportunities for all Batswana who desire to use education and training as a tool for self-employment, poverty alleviation and personal growth.