26 Jan 2025

The Minister of Higher Education, Mr Prince Maele has emphasised the urgent need to elaborate on the introduction of the National Certificate Qualification Framework (NCQF) programme, targeting stakeholders in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Colleges.

During his ongoing nationwide visits to higher learning institutions, Mr Maele made this announcement recently at the Kanye Brigade Centre.

He acknowledged that the ministry was yet to effectively build an understanding of the NCQF and its enhancement of the previous National Certificate Curriculum (NCC), which was offered at brigades.

The minister highlighted that the NCQF with internationalyly recognised qualifications represented an advancement over the NCC, thus enabling graduates to access global opportunities.

He pointed out that with appropriate training, graduates could establish their own businesses and contribute to alleviating the rising unemployment rate within the country.

Minister Maele urged students to consider entrepreneurship as a viable path after graduation, noting that relying solely on job-seeking was unsustainable.

Given the government’s challenging financial situation, he indicated that fostering a private sector-led economy was crucial. He believed that small businesses could provide necessary relief to the administration’s fiscal constraints.

Furthermore, the minister advocated for TVET colleges to forge connections with lower schools to create a coherent syllabus that meets industry demands.

He stressed the importance of partnerships with universities and the private sector to secure capital and necessary educational resources.

Although he requested time to complete his national tour before consolidating and addressing challenges faced by higher education institutions, Mr Maele emphasised the immediate need for schools to review available options to enhance staff morale.

Addressing the staff concerns at the Kanye Brigade Centre, Mr Ignatius Letlhare highlighted issues such as the unstructured promotion processes within the institution and a lack of accommodation for staff.

He also expressed reservations about the NCQF, describing it as inadequate in addressing industry needs, and called for its revision.
Student Representative Council (SRC) President, Mr Thebe Laletsang raised concerns about poor internet connectivity hindering students’ research efforts.

He also pointed out that varied sporting activities were suffering due to a lack of playing fields, and noted that the Brigade’s remote location posed challenges to accessing transportation.

In terms of student allowances, Mr Laletsang acknowledged the insufficiency of the monthly stipend of P300 and requested improvements, such as the direct deposit of funds into students’ bank accounts instead of requiring collection from postal offices. ENDS