Speaking in Parliament this week, the Minister of Higher Education, Prince Maele, revealed that the UDC promised in their manifesto to pay P2, 500 tertiary students allowances per month if the coalition wins the election. He was quick to highlight that the ministry budget will grow by 30.23% thus they are going to credit the students with the promised allowance regardless. “We have made all the calculations to see how we are going to credit P2,500 to all the tertiary students,’’ Maele told Parliament. Maele was responding to a question from Kgatleng West legislator, Unity Dow, who asked for an update on the implementation of the promised payment of P2, 500 for tertiary student allowances. Maele highlighted that students who live in remote areas still face the challenge of limited or no finances to travel from their villages to educational institutions in Gaborone.
He admitted that unfortunately, they did not have the budget to cover students’ transport expenses. Maele was responding to Dow’s other question about whether the former’s ministry is prepared to give an additional transport and living allowance to students coming from remote areas such as Sekondomboro, Beetsha, and Gudigwa in the Okavango East Constituency, which is located about 1, 400km away from Gaborone. Maele further explained that to accommodate the vulnerable children, remote area dwellers, orphans, and special education needs, they will allow them to enroll in tertiary schools with 31 points instead of 36. ‘’We are going to need P290.2 million to increase the budget to cover the tertiary students' expenses,” said the minister. He further pointed out that they have calculated the budget, which will be presented to the Cabinet.
Maele further indicated that they will be able to commit to a date once the Cabinet approves the budget. The Minister added that all tertiary students or those who live on campus, colleges and Brigades included are going to be paid P2, 500. Maele also disclosed that there are currently 430, 890 students under government sponsorship.
