Africa-Press – Botswana. As part of broader government initiative to rebrand and modernise vocational education, brigades will be renamed Vocational Training Colleges, Minister of Tertiary Education, Mr Prince Maele has said.
The shift he said was to improve the perception and value of education from these institutions, ultimately contributing to skilling more workforce and addressing high unemployment rates.
Addressing Madiba and Mahalapye brigade’s staff and students after tour of the facilities on Tuesday, Mr Maele said the most visible change to renaming brigades to vocational colleges reflected a move towards greater smartness and more change that was positive.
He said some people think brigades were for those who failed at school, indicating however, that handiwork was the best and well-recognised type of work globally.
Mr Maele said that many developed countries relied on vocational training, urging the youth to embrace this path toward economic growth.
“Government is advocating for infrastructure upgrades and modern equipment to improve the facilities and programmes offered by these institutions,” he said.
The Minister said government was also working on equalising student allowances for vocational to the rest of tertiary institutions to remove prejudice that historically disadvantaged vocational learners, adding that by August, the allowance will increase to P1 900.
Mr Maele who is also the MP for Tswapong North said that government emphasised the importance of skills development and potential of vocational training in addressing unemployment particularly among young people.
He said the push to align vocational programmes with industry demands was to ensure that the national skills framework produced graduates equipped with skills needed in the job market.
He said they would bring brigades lecturers to the standard of those at vocational colleges by re-tooling and upskilling them.
Madiba Brigades principal, Ms Nametso Gopolang appreciated the minister’s tour, recalling that when they started in 1972 together with Shashe and Tswelelopele at Ramotswa they registered only students who failed Standard Seven and the unprivileged ones.
She said currently they had 288 students and 59 employees including non-teaching staff, offering Auto Mechanics, Welding, Carpentry, Brick molding and Electrical courses. Challenges she said was lack of funds, noting that Ms Gopolang their workshops and offices needed maintenance.
She said lecturers and staff were stagnant on the same post, with no promotion prospects.
Madiba Brigade staff representative, Mr Tsholofelo Kaelo said despite winning the scarce skills allowances case, they had not been paid. He added that though not paid for extra-curricular activities, they continued to volunteer citing trophies and medals won. Mahalapye Brigade’s Mr Boitshwarelo Beo said that their brigade was doing well in Dressmaking Trade C and B, clothing design, technology and accounting and business courses.
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