Govt scraps sponsorship quota for UB
Baboki Kayawe | Wednesday August 10, 2016 18:00
Under the quota system, which has already kicked in, government has published the number of students it is willing to sponsor during the 2016/17 financial year, specifying courses and institutions. Education authorities say the review was done to align training with market needs as well as budgetary needs.
However, out of the list of institutions for the quota, the UB student body had protested the move, alleging lack of consultation by the ministry with learners, parents and other stakeholders.
Over 1,500 beginning students were left in limbo as classes commenced on August 1 at the country’s top public institution, due to lack of funding.
Yesterday, Mmegi was reliably informed that after extensive talks between UB management, MoESD permanent secretary, Theopilus Mooko and the Student Representative Council (SRC) a decision was reached to exempt the UB from the quotas.
Trouble arose after students found out that the programmes of study they had been admitted for were not within those that the Department of Tertiary Education Financing was sponsoring in the current academic cycle. The affected learners were admitted for study programmes falling outside the priority programmes and requisite skills areas needed to advance the economy.
“Education authorities present at the meeting committed to issue all students with sponsorship letters starting tomorrow until next week,” a source close to the developments told Mmegi.
However, not all affected students are winners. Mmegi is informed that out of the 1,500-plus first year learners whose future hung in the balance, 290 admitted for ICT and a few courses in Humanities, will not be sponsored. “They have been given leeway to opt for other programmes of study besides their initial choices for which financing will be availed,” said sources close to the developments.
A commission tasked with handling their cases has been established, led by Director of Academic Services, Motsei Rapelana.
“At yesterday’s meeting, a decision was taken that classes for all first-years should discontinue until after the UB Senate meets this Wednesday to decide on the matter,” sources said.
UBSRC president, Bakotelo Mmipi told Mmegi that the student movement was not against the new system as they had always urged that government should prioritise tertiary education finance with a bias towards programmes that will uplift the local economy. “It is a good system but it was not well executed in the sense that the consultation fell short,” said Mmipi.
On Sunday, the MoESD issued a statement to the effect that all institutions had been notified of the new quota system and were therefore expected to communicate the same to their prospective students.
“The quota system allocations were finalised and distributed to institutions between 4th and 8th April 2016 to inform their decisions and advertisements (for enrolment),” education spokesperson, Oteng Mokowe said.UB vice chancellor, Professor Thabo Fako has released a statement outlining the agreement to exempt the UB.