16 Mar 2025

Allowances for Botswana students studying in Russia have consistently been paid despite the challenges posed by the Russia-Ukraine War, the Minister of Higher Education, Mr Prince Maele has confirmed to Parliament.
Responding to a parliamentary question, Mr Maele said living allowances for Russia-based Botswana students had been paid up to March 2025 and that the next allowances for the months of April to June 2025 were scheduled to be paid in advance by end of March 2025.
He further said payment of living allowances for students on Russia Scholarship tenable in Russia was currently paid in advance, every three months, through First National Bank Botswana into their personal local Botswana accounts which they have access to while in Russia.
Mr Maele said there were currently no obstacles in the payment of the students’ maintenance allowances.
“However, he said, at the eruption of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the ministry experienced challenges in paying the students allowances.
The challenges were attributable to the sanctions imposed on Russia. Subsequently, transacting with Russian Commercial Banks directly was a challenge as students had to continually change service providers as those continued to be barred from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications (SWIFT),” Mr Maele said.
Furthermore, Mr Maele said the ministry made arrangements to always pay the living allowances in advance every three months and through local banks, to safeguard the timely transfer of funds to students studying in conflict affected areas.
He said at present there were no financial disruptions to the payment of living allowances for students on Russian Scholarship.
“The office of the Education Attache in the Embassy of Botswana in Sweden continues to monitor the situation in Russia and continuously engages with students through physical visits and regular virtual meetings to resolve any emerging challenges and to create a conducive learning environment for the students,” Mr Maele said.
He was responding to a question from Kgatleng Central Member of Parliament, Mr Mpho Morolong, who sought an update on the status of funds disbursements for Botswana students  in Russia, particularly regarding their living allowances, in light of the complications arising from the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
Mr Morolong also asked the minister what mechanisms were in place to ensure that students received their funds efficiently and without complications; if there were any identified obstacles in the disbursement process, and if so, what strategies were being implemented to mitigate these challenges.
He further probed if the ministry explored alternative methods to safeguard timely transfer of funds to students studying in conflict-affected areas; and that what assurances government provided to ensure that students abroad focused on their studies without financial disruptions. ENDS