Govt discriminates against 'own' diplomates

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Friday June 4, 2010 00:00

Even MoE itself does not guarantee that upon completing their diploma courses, the students will progress to pursue degrees on government sponsorship.

MoE spokesperson, Nomsa Zuze says a student is given only one chance to enrol for tertiary education and that sponsorship for further studies depends on availability of funds. Explaining what happens, Zuze says the ministry and any given student sign a memorandum of agreement once and that should such a student want degree level sponsorship, they join the queue for consideration.

'We give preference to those who have never been sponsored,' she says. 'It wouldn't be fair to sponsor those who have been sponsored before.'

She explains that when MoE rolls out scholarships, it holds orientation sessions with prospective students and advises them on all issues regarding government sponsorship. The students subsequently choose whether to enrol for diploma or degree programmes.

Zuze says even so, some students choose diploma courses without knowing the repercussions.

Many government programmes, including the recently introduced National Internship Programme that places new graduates for job training and experience, does not include diploma holders.

Even the Botswana Defence Force prefers degree holders to diploma holders. Many diploma holders, who signed contracts with MoE as far back as 2007 remain stranded because they do not qualify for the government's National Internship Programmes and face stiff competition from graduates on the job market.

Some of these diplomates studied at ABM College, Limkokwing, NIIT, GIPS and Ba Isago University College.