Mmegi

Moment of truth for P3bn tertiary financing

Every-changing times: The ongoing revenue challenge facing government has led to tough decisions on students’ sponsorships PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
Every-changing times: The ongoing revenue challenge facing government has led to tough decisions on students’ sponsorships PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG

As Botswana pumps another P3 billion into tertiary education this financial year, it is time the country ponders the uncomfortable questions about an entrenched culture of entitlement and whether its billion-pula student financing scheme is sustainable. Mmegi Staffer, TIMOTHY LEWANIKA writes

Whilst there has been public outcry over government’s decision to review the Top Achievers sponsorship programme — potentially halting opportunities for students to study abroad — the real monkey on its back is the millions of pula in unpaid tertiary education loans.

Coupled with the ongoing brain drain, the country continues to lose thousands of sponsored learners to overseas opportunities. Many ultimately abandon the very government that funded their studies, opting for greener pastures rather than returning home to contribute skills and deliver a return on investment.

Editor's Comment
Commitment by DPP to fight corruption welcome

Whilst many citizens put trust in their leaders that they are tackling one of the worst curses that can befall a country, the public has lost trust after all the cases seemed not to go anywhere.As the saying goes, ‘corruption is a cancer that eats away at the fabric of society’; corruption affects effective governance.Corruption affects delivery of services to the public and also crumbles most systems meant to assist citizens who are very...

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