Africa-Press – Botswana. Graduates of the Agricultural Extension Degree Programme from the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) have appealed to government to intervene and create employment opportunities.
Delivering a petition to Parliament on behalf of the graduates on Friday, Dr Kesitegile Gobotswang, the Member of Parliament for Tswapong South noted that BUAN launched its Agricultural Extension Degree Programme in 2011, with the first graduates completing their studies in 2015.
Dr Gobotswang explained that the graduates possessed the necessary skills to undertake extension work in various districts but have found themselves without jobs, particularly within the lands and agriculture ministry which they had hoped would employ them.
“The graduates are now left stranded,” he stated, highlighting that their positions were being filled by graduates with qualifications in Crop Science, General Agriculture, and Agronomy.
He said despite the students qualifications and expectations of employment, it seems there is no market for those specifically trained in Agricultural Extension.
He articulated that prior to enrolling in the programme, students were assured by BUAN that thorough market surveys had been conducted, justifying the belief that employment opportunities for Agricultural Extension graduates would be readily available.
However, this has not been the case, leading to a disheartening realisation that the graduates have been overlooked in the job market.
Dr Gobotswang further criticised the government’s continued sponsorship of students in the Agricultural Extension programme, despite the apparent lack of job opportunities since the programme’s inception.
His advocacy underscores a growing frustration among the graduates, who feel their efforts to seek answers from the government have been met with closed doors, necessitating the petition to Parliament.
Dr Gobotswang said “Agricultural Extension appears to be an obsolete programme,” saying graduates accused BUAN of treating it as a cash cow for income generation without regard for the employment prospects.
In response to the grievances raised, BUAN released a joint statement following an emergency meeting involving the university’s Executive Management, the Student Representative Committee (SRC), and the Graduates Students Association (GSA).
The university acknowledged the concerns and announced the formation of a task force including student representatives. This task force will focus on engaging graduates, consolidating their concerns, and proposing tangible solutions.
The joint press release states, “The voices of the students, both current and past, must not only be heard but be actively involved in shaping the direction we take.”
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