New Era College of Arts, Science and Technology has found light at the end of the tunnel after an order was passed giving Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) and Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoE) until September 6, 2023 to sensitise the court why certain courses at New Era should be blacklisted.
The court order given by Justice Ookeditse Maphakwane at the Lobatse High Court today, follows a statement released by BQA on Wednesday sending a stern warning to prospective students not to enroll for certain educational programmes at New Era, Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) and Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN). The blacklisted courses by BQA at New Era are Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronics, Diploma in Construction Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Telecommunications, Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and Diploma in Telecommunications Engineering.
The court order states: “A rule nisi be and is hereby issued returnable on September 6 at 09:30 hours calling upon the respondents to show cause why an order in the following terms should not be made final.” The court order has indicated that the two respondents should refrain from meddling with the accreditation status of the plaintiff. “The respondent is interdicted from interfering with the applicant’s accreditation status.” The High Court also ordered that in the meantime the 1st respondent shall restore the plaintiff's accreditation status with immediate effect pending an institution and finalisation of the review proceedings.
The High Court added that the respondents are further implored to refrain from publishing public statements revoking the applicant’s accreditation status. The court order further states that the respondents shall withdraw any published material made to the effect that the applicant’s status has been revoked. Justice Maphakwane further interdicted MoE from transferring students admitted by the Applicant for the aforesaid programmes for the academic year 2023/24 to any other institution. The Lobatse High Court ordered that the terms would remain the interim orders with immediate effect until September 6. And if the respondents fail to show cause why the accreditation status of the applicant should be revoked, the High Court will make the interim orders ‘Final Orders’.
