Mbaakanyi wants students monitored

GABORONE - The Department of Student Placement and Welfare has been urged to monitor the performance of students sponsored by the government at tertiary institutions.
Specially elected MP, Mrs Moggie Mbaakanyi made the call on Monday when contributing to the over P 8 billion budget proposal for the Ministry of Education and Skills Development.
She said some students' take over six years to complete a four-year course.
Mrs Mbaakanyi also advised the ministry to ensure that allowances are not paid to ghosts students.
On teacher welfare, Mrs Mbaakanyi called for incentives such as scarce skills allowance. She also complained about the shortage of accommodation for teachers.
The specially elected MP also called for the establishment of special education schools in each district.
While Mr Olebile Gaborone of South East North called on the government to provide pre-school education as it provided a good education foundation for children.
Mr Gaborone also suggested that a quota system should be implemented to train teachers in special education in order to cater for children with disabilities.
About the recent strike at the University of Botswana, Mr Gaborone said the situation became volatile because relevant authorities were slow to respond, adding that "it seems there is no proper communication." He urged the Minister of Education and Skills Development the UB vice chancellor to make it a habit to always meet with students.
On her part, specially elected MP, Mrs Margaret Nasha condemned the recent violence at UB that left some of the institution's property damaged. "We do not need professional students who take 10 years to complete a four year course." She supported the position that action should only be taken against the perpetrators. Mrs Nasha also appealed to parents to mould the behaviour of their children and ensure that they understand that they went to university to acquire education.
Another MP, Mr Dumelang Saleshando of Gaborone Central commended the government for investing in human resource development. He, however, said it appeared the country did not have a strategy on how to export such human resources. "In this country it appears the strategy is train for domestic demand." He also advocated for a system that would allow young Batswana with skills and special talent to faster within the ranks of the public service.
The MP also called for government intervention in the exorbitant prizes charged by private schools.
He said failure to intervene would lead to a situation where over 90 per cent of the private school students would be foreigners.
Mr Saleshando attributed the decline in performance at school leaving examinations to concentration on quantity as opposed to quality.
Regarding the UB riots, Mr Saleshando said he also regrets the violence that occurred at the university.
He said contrary to suggestions that he was behind the riots he has been trying to find an amicable solution to the problems.
Mr Saleshando said there is a need for everyone to accept that they need to nurture and educate those students.
On his part, Mr Pono Moatlhodi of Tonota South commended Shashe River School for coming third in this year's Cambridge results.
He, however, complained about the lack of maintenance of some schools in his constituency, describing it as "ferocious." Mr Moatlhodi also complained that one of the directors in the Ministry of Education and Skills Development was appointed without competition for the post despite it being advertised.
Another MP, Mr Mmoloki Raletobana of Kweneng South East said the construction of the four senior secondary schools would help increase enrolment.
He called for the construction of a junior secondary school in Mmopane.
Mr Vister Moruti of Okavango called for the maintenance of schools in his constituency.
While Mr Akanyang Magama of Gaborone South said the country needed to refocus its education.
He said in the era of globalisation jobs in the formal education sector would be replaced by more practical education.
He also welcomed the development of the human resources strategy, but questioned the reasons why the UB refuses to admit students who hold diploma courses from Baisago University.
He also called for the review of allowances of Batswana students studying in South Africa, saying the cost of living has went up tremendously. BOPA