21 Mar 2022

The demand for beauty therapy is increasing , hence the need for beauty therapists reinvent themselves in the industry. 

For this reason, graduates of beauty therapy have been implored to open their own businesses which will ultimately create more jobs for Batswana.  

“Embrace change, thirst for knowledge, and seek to incessantly improve yourselves by being part of a network of thoughts and actions of other professionals who were beset by the passion of making the world a better place,” said Teacher Training and Technical Education Director, Matlhogonolo Mokakapadi.

Speaking during a graduation ceremony for the Shahnaz Herbal Institute of beauty therapy in Gaborone on Saturday March 19, Mokakapadi said the country was transforming into a knowledge-based economy, and as such more people were recognising the need for beauty therapy services.

He said as such, government took the first initiative to introduce and train beauty therapy in its institutions of higher learning through the establishment of hairdressing and beauty therapy departments at Gaborone Technical College and Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education. “Beauty therapy is a vocational skills training area which was previously considered a preserve of the elite and well-travelled few, but I am happy to witness a high number of graduates at this ceremony,” he stated.

Mokakapadi further said since government alone could not cope with the demand of beauty therapy courses, adding that it was heartening to witness the establishment of private institutions such as Shahnaz herbal institution of beauty therapy to compliment government’s effort to provide industry relevant skills training.

“I am also reliably informed that graduates of beauty therapy are readily absorbed by the industry soon after completion of their programme,” he said.

For her part, Shahnaz Herbal Institute of beauty therapy, Gillian Tengani applauded the graduates for their commitment to their studies during the entire duration of their course work especially against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This auspicious day marks the epitome of hard work, zeal and commitment exerted by both the lecturers and soon to be graduands,” she said.

Tengani also applauded members of the institution’s academic staff for their tenacity in ensuring that their students gained sustainable skills transfer to become relevant in the  economic growth of beauty therapy sector. “The whole institution celebrates with you, we are proud of your achievements but there is much more to do, and today marks a new beginning,” she said.

 Reflecting on her educational journey, graduate, Caritas Hungwe said completing her beauty therapy certification was a dream come true.

“With the qualities I have gained from Shahnaz Herbal Institute, I am empowered to seek out new opportunities with the confidence to overcome challenges and unexpected setbacks because of the power of a college education.” Ends