Own Correspondent
17th June 2020
With tertiary institutions and schools around the country slowly opening 113 Educational training Providers(ETP’s) have submitted proposals explaining efforts to mitigate the interruption of teaching and learning due to COVID-19 to the Botswana Qualifications Authority(BQA) officials have revealed to the media.
37 Educational Training Provider’s(ETP) have been given feedback with 14 consultancies involved about changes communicated to their governance structure with their students and staff with a majority of them failing to submit a comprehensive risk management plan.
“A significant number of ETP’s did not introduce an additional mode of delivery due to challenges with connectivity to learners. There was also a lack of access to internet for and other appropriate resources for learners,” said Dr Botsalano Tsala Mosimakoko, Botswana Qualifications Authority(BQA) Chief Executive Officer(CEO).
She said, “Some ETP’s have adopted the use of online platforms to deposit learning and teaching materials, conduct lectures, virtual practical sessions and administer assessments. But the learners raised concerns related to internet connectivity.”
Mosimakoko revealed that some institutions have made efforts to facilitate availability of internet to both staff learners by either purchasing data bundles for them or negotiating reduced rates with suppliers. Whilst most ETP’s will be extending their academic years to make up for lost time 3 of the 37 evaluated ETP’s have conducted assessment of learners using alternate methods.
These include online assessments and open book tests. There was however inadequate consultations with staff and learners when introducing the new methods BQA officials revealed.
“The ETP’s have been requested to provide information indicating how their academic year will be adjusted, possible implications of the adjustments on the current and new enrolments and mitigating strategies. They will also have to indicate how the new health protocols will affect these arrangements,” said Mosimakoko.
The University of Botswana was inspected by District Health Management Team(DHMT) officials on the 3rd June 2020 and was authorised to operate with students returning on the 8th June. Medical students started their attachment in April 2020 and were not affected by COVID-19 arrangements because they are an essential service. Industrial attachments continued during COVID-19 period.
Other educational institutions are also opening after inspections by DHMT. These include the Botswana College of Engineering and Technology on the 8th June, Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education(FCTVE) on 9th June 2020, Serowe College of Education(SCE) on the 8th June, Molepolole College of Education(MCE) on the 9th June, Tlokweng College of Education on the 8th June, Tonota College on the 8th June, Lobatse, Gaborone, Molepolole, Kanye and Francistown IHS on 8th June.
Gaborone Technical College has been requested to close gaps and has booked for reinspection on the 16th June 2020. Oodi College of Applied Arts and Technology awaits inspection. It has to attend to separation of showers at students hostel and the maintenance of the water treatment plant.
The Botswana Accountancy College opened on the 3rd June and the Botswana International University of Science and Technology(BIUST) opened on the 15th June 2020. BIUST is awaiting different companies to respond before starting attachments.
Sponsorship request applications by returning students for this academic year will close on the 24th June 2020. The initial submission of applications for student sponsorships opened on the 16th March 2020 and was closed on the 30th April 2020 owing to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe, Minister of Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology, said “We have increased the number of places where sponsorship forms will be available around the country to reduce movement of students and convening of gatherings during COVID-19 period.”
He said, “There were will be 20 sites in different parts of the country accepting sponsorship applications. In Gaborone there will be two sites.”
