23 Mar 2025

The Ministry of Higher Education aims to align with the transformation agenda in a bid to foster an environment where scholars can interrogate wealth of knowledge which to a great extent remains a mystery.

Presenting his ministry’s budget proposals for the financial year 2025/26, the minister Mr Prince Maele said the aim was to build the research capacity of the country’s institutions with the ultimate plan of increasing the number of PhD graduates.

Mr Maele said the transformation agenda would allow for a more intense collaboration amongst universities and research institutions such as BITRI and NARDI. The minister said in order to realise the desired  transformation agenda, it was important to reform learning institutions and transform the quality of education throughout tertiary institutions.

The minister said no learner would be left behind as the learning process would encompass both technical and non-technical career interest. Mr Maele said his visit to some learning institutions had revealed that substantial resources were required in order to restore the state of the facilities across all learning institutions and transform them into learner and teacher friendly environment.

Mr Maele said the proposed  budget for his ministry was P4.66 billion under the Recurrent Budget and P18 565 000 as Development Budget. He said P3 950 000 was proposed for completion of BUAN facilities, which include the development of Sebele BioCity and Fisheries Centre of Excellence.

In an endeavour to improve infrastructure through continuous maintenance of tertiary facilities, Mr Maele said P10 665 000 was requested for the maintenance of Brigades and completion of Rapid Skills Satellite Centres across the country.

Contributing to the proposed budget, Maun West MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama applauded the minister for promising to upgrade and maintain infrastructure as well as to provide ICT equipment of high standards at tertiary institutions. Mr Hikuama said brigades were in a challenging state and in urgent need of upgrading.

He said the conditions of service of employees must also be improved and said the UDC and the BCP were not differring in the direction that the education system must take.He said another challenge that needed to be addressed was the delay in accrediting courses at tertiary institutions and brigades.

Molepolole South MP, Mr Shima Monageng said tertiary institutions must take into account learners with disabilities to ensure that they were well catered for.

Mogoditshane West MP, Mr Galenawabo Lekau said Mogoditshane was highly industrious, therefore must have a brigade or vocational college befitting its status. He said a brigade must offer relevant courses which would empower the livelihoods of the community by imparting skills relevant to such a locality.

Lentsweletau/ Lephepe MP, Mr Tshenolo Bogatsu said indigenous knowledge must be encouraged at tertiary institutions. Mr Bogatsu also said colleges of education must be upgraded to offer degree courses saying it was important to train for a purpose and build manpower in line with the skills needed in the industry to enable the country to grow and diversify its economy.

Okavango East MP, Mr Gabotsholwe Disho advised government to shift focus and prioritise Okavango, as it does not have a tertiary or vocational institution. Mr Disho said a vocational college offering tourism related courses would be ideal for his constituency.

Tswapong South MP, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang said vocational training had the potential to produce graduates who would self-employ. However, Dr Gobotswang observed that uptake of vocational education was still low and said it was unfortunate to observe that vocational institutions had collapsed and their workshops no longer in use, therefore producing graduates that were not ready to stand on their own.

Dr Gobotswang said as a result, foreigners dominated business opportunities that could be taken by the locals with vocational skills. ENDS