BQA reduceS fees for youth entrepreneurs

As part of efforts to cushion budding entrepreneurs, Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) has halved its fees for youth applicants. The development comes after fees amendment regulations announced this month, repealing the Authority’s June 2016 fees.“We want to enable more youth into the education sector,” said Selwana Pilatwe-Koppenhaver, BQA spokesperson. The amended fees include accreditation of learning programmes, registration and accreditation of training sites, registration and accreditation of training providers, and many other services associated with BQA. Pilatwe-Koppenhaver said stakeholders have in the past lamented the high fees charged by the Authority and hence the decision to review the fees and further lure youth, by charging 50 percent of the fees.“We want to be youth friendly,” said Pilatwe-Koppenhaver.Under the 2016 regulations, BQA charged a fee of ten thousand pula to register an early childhood institution and under the new structure, application is now P5000.00 and a renewal fee of P2000.00. However, youth business will pay half of the fees and are also allowed to propose a payment scheme if they are not capable to pay the once off fee. Some of the charges that have been reduced include primary school registration which is now P10 000.00 pula, secondary P 15 000.00 and consultancy P10 000.00. Apart from reviewing its fees, the Authority has also flexed its muscles to pounce on unregistered institutions, this year.