Tap Into Education

Source : Kutlwano

Author : Lindi Morwaeng

Location : Gaborone

Event : Interview

The education sector is fast becoming one of the most lucrative sectors \\ presenting huge potential for investors. Although education has been faced with a myriad of challenges in past years, it can undoubtedly be the answer to diversifying the economy away from reliance on diamonds. Consequently, acting Education Hub coordinator, Mogotsa Kewagamang, called for a paradigm shift in the education sector.

Botswana, he noted at Global Expo business workshop last year, has since way back been sponsoring students abroad for quality education, which in fact could be overturned by investing locally and possibly attracting foreign  students to local institutions. “Let us look externally and reverse utbound students,” he said.

 His was a wakeup call to both local and international investors to consider private public partnerships that have so far borne fruit in the education sector. Kewagamang also revealed that P300 million that was previously channeled outside is now being used in local institutions through government sponsorship.

Some of the various fields in education that have been identified as money-spinners are hospitality and tourism where a gap exists between the market and the standards, knowledge and experience. Another lucrative investment can be made in the medical science field. Kewagamanag indicated that a medical research and training institute is required to provide clinical research and laboratory skills training. Such could be in the mould of a Centre for Disease Control or Havard School of Public Health.

Given the the situation not only in Botswana but the world over, there is an overwhelming demand for health workers. That notwithstanding, there is a growing global interest in research especially in the area of communicable diseases such Tuberculosis, Malaria, and HIV where personnel is desperately needed. Mining is another area of great interest as diamond mining is one of the sectors that give Botswana a comparative advantage. Thus,competitiveness in meeting the highest international benchmarks.

‘Agriculture and livestock as well have great potential as a lot of bye products go to waste. Natural resources abound and this makes the agricultural sector one of the most lucrative for investment. In the area of veterinary science, institutions offering specialist training courses for veterinary surgeons and students in the restraining of African animals including chemical immobilizations are highly in demand.

Other areas that have opportunities in investment are energy and the growing importance in renewable energy, conservation and environment, peace and justice as well as democracy, governance and economic management.

 As much as there are vast opportunities in the area of education there are also some hiccups that might be considered as stumbling blocks. Vice chairman and managing director for ABM College laid the ground for doing business in Botswana particularly in the education sector. Daisy Molefhi lamented that Botswana’s political and

macroeconomic policies hinder citizen empowerment in the education sector.

“Government is taking long to sponsor students in local institutions and yet institutions are investing

heavily on infrastructure.” Although the climate is promising, she said, more can be done. She also said vocational skills development was lagging behind as per research by Botswana Training Authority. However, she applauded

government for merging BotswanaT raining Authority and Tertiary Education Council to improve quality services. As such fly by night institutions will now be a thing of the past.

 Molefhi highlighted that early childhood education was another with vast investment opportunities but regretted that currently it has been left to the whims of the private sector . “Pre-school is also critical to attaining Vision 2016 pillar of an educated and informed nation. This area has not been tapped into enough. In addition, there is a challenge in lifelong learning, something that professionals need.”

 She observed that Batswana do not develop themselves beyond their first degrees. That, she said, was the reason why Botswana has not attained an efficiency driven economy. Another major challenge is shortage of adequate trainers in the local market. On the other hand, Ba Isago College managing director cautioned against reliance on licensed and franchised institutions since it was expensive because of frequent changes in policies. 

“Our local institutions should develop their programmes,” he said. He explained that those who want to invest in education should make their curriculum relevant as the ground has been softened. Those who would like to go this route and do not have infrastructure learnt that government was willing to share facilities such as brigades to reduce the cost of building.