Africa-Press – Botswana. Students and graduates of DDT College of Medicine have appealed for government to intervene and suspend the college’s operations pending appeal of the accreditation revocation issued on June 10, before the Ministerial Appeals Committee.
The concerned parties also want government to safeguard students from graduating with unaccredited qualifications from the college. Delivering the petition to Parliament on behalf of the students and graduates on Wednesday, Maun West MP, Mr Caterpillar Hikuama said the matter required urgent response as there were students scheduled to complete their learning programme in mid-August.
Mr Hikuama explained that after months of fighting for recognition, the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC), Ministry of Higher Education and Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA), confirmed in April that the college did not meet Botswana’s qualifications, as well as HRDC standards. Despite having done everything right, which included lodging the matter with BQA, engaging HRDC and protesting peacefully, Mr Hikuama said the students and graduates had not been assisted yet.
“They promised a solution within seven days. Yet, here we are, three months later with no justice, no resolution of the matter, the reality is that these students and graduates are trapped in the middle of the world,” he said.
He said HRDC, BQA and the ministry must be held accountable for delays of up to 90 plus days.
“Reform private education regulation, no more fake colleges and public laws transparency and student protection must be enforced,” he added.
The MP called for a special dispensation to be made, for all the DDT College of Medicine students to be transferred to BQA accredited and recognised institutions, both locally and regionally and that the Department of Tertiary Education Financing facilitate all transfers and continue sponsoring students at the respective universities and colleges that they would be admitted to.
“If Botswana is truly a nation of justice, then prove it. Do not let the dreams of these students die because of corruption, negligence and empty promises,” he added.
The MP also expressed concern that the graduates were currently in an unaccredited institution, ‘paying fees for worthless education’. The degrees acquired from the college, he said, would not be recognised, leaving the graduates ineligible for jobs or further studies.
“Graduates who should be serving Botswana, as doctors, are instantly jobless and indebted. Every day of delay is a stolen future and they have to pay for their education,” he said.
Furthermore, Mr Hikuama appealed for the pending students allowances to be released and also urged the government to stop neglecting students financial needs.
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