Botswana

May 2005
Students studying abroad must come back home, (The Botswana Gazette, 2005 -05-25):-The Minister of Education, Jacob Nkate, says students who are sent to study outside the country must come back home after completing their studies. This is despite the fact that graduates face a difficult job market here at home. Nkate said government is aware that there are fewer employment opportunities than in the past, but it is policy for students to come back home. However he said there is a recent modification to the policy. "Government is willing to hold talks with students who want to work abroad. We will analyse their situation and they can then be given an official release," said Nkate. According to the Minister, some students were sent abroad to do courses for skills that are scarce in the country; that is why they should come back on completion. He said students remai n government's responsibility after completing their courses; "if anything happens to a student while he is still away from home, we will be accountable, so they have to come back and be given an official release," he said. With the ongoing cost recovery pol icy that the government has adopted, the Minister said it is also important to keep track of students so that they can pay back the money government used to sponsor their education. Some students question the policy. With few job opportunities at home, some parents and students say students should be allowed to find jobs where ever they may be. Tshegofatso Ramakoba, a University of Botswana student said there are no jobs in Botswana anymore therefore students who study abroad should be allowed to find opportunities where they are. "There is no need for them to come for official release when they know that the courses they were doing are not marketable at home," she observed. But Ramakoba acknowledged that it would be difficult for Batswana to penetrate job markets in for eign countries because most jobs need experience. She said the government and the private sector must join hands to create employment opportunities at home. Tshireletso lesole's observed that people should be given choices , whether they want to come back o r not. "The fact that we still have non -citizens occupying many jobs in the country shows that we still need educated and skilled personnel" Duduetsang is waiting to be admitted to a tertiary institution and she says stu dents must be allowed to make their own choices after completing their studies. "Why should people come for official release because it is obvious that there are no jobs here at home," she observed. She says Botswana still needs skilled people, but she is surpr ised that students can be sent for scarce courses and still fail to find work at home, "in the first place, I wonder why we send people for courses that we cannot provide a market for," she said. Parents say students should be allowed to choose between coming home and staying where they are. This will depend on the opportunities that can be explored by the individual student. However Evelyn Lopang said it is important for students to come back to Botswana for official release because they are the responsibi lity of the Ministry of Educati on and anything that happens to them will be for the Ministry to answer. Mma -Dineo said it is important that the students come back home because they can help develop the country. "We need them here at home; why should we say they must find jobs outside, l et's create the jobs here at home."

South African Migration Project (SAMP) - Queen's University - http://www.queensu.ca/samp

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3447356

F.C.T.V.E Students To Return Allowances - Ministry Written by Botswana Gazette online Tuesday, 10 March 2009 19:04 KOPANO OLESITSE FRANCISTOWN: The Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education (FCTVE) students are worried by the call from the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to return the P1, 920 erroneously deposited into individual accounts. Some students alleged that by September last year, a meeting was held between them and the ministry where they stated their need for books and stationery allowances. The number of concerned students is close to 90 whilst the total amount deposited in students bank accounts has not been disclosed. One student, who preferred anonymity, said: Following the September meeting last year, on February 5 this year, our banks reported that P1, 920 had been deposited into our individual accounts and as we understood it, the money was to be for books and stationery. We then used the money accordingly. But this morning (March 3), we received letters from the college bursar that all those who had the money deposited into their accounts should return the

money. The letters entitled: Department of Student Placement and Welfare (DSPW) had a bank account number where the money was to be deposited. The student told The Gazette that the letter written from the DSPW, did not give reasons why they should return the money, adding that nothing was stated as to what action would be taken against defaulters. He said their main worry was that the money has already been spent. On his part, FCVTE deputy principal Bushy Setabo said: The money was deposited into the students accounts accidentally; they should have enquired about the money in their accounts when they noticed that an unusual amount had been credited to their bank accounts. Banks at times make errors and deposit money by mistake. Not all students had money deposited in their accounts but only those that are sponsored by the Department of Tertiary Education Funding. Those who are self sponsored together with those sponsored by the Technical Education and Training were not affected. Mr Setabo said students must be aware of the consequences of using money that does not belong to you. He said in case they fail to return the money, arrangements should be made with the DSPW on finding the solution. Senior college bursar Mrs Botho Masoba said the P1, 920 deposited on students accounts was never their money, stressing that a technical error occurred. All government sponsored students received their P300 for stationery as well as P2, 500 for books in June last year. The duration of that money will lapse in May this year so they will only get their books and stationery money in June this year. Also we do not have government sponsored students who reside off-campus, so this means all government sponsored students receive P150 as monthly allowances. The P1, 920 used to be the monthly allowances for off-campus students but that has since changed because all of them have on-campus accommodation, said Masoba. Even though Masoba confirmed that there was indeed a meeting between the students and the ministry officials last September, she dismissed allegations that it was to discuss the books and stationery issue. That meeting was to inform all government sponsored students that they would no longer be given the off-campus allowance as accommodation was now sufficient on campus and to urge them to return to the college. She added that in case students suspected that the account where the money is to be returned is for individuals, they can seek account details from the bank.