DTEF urges graduates to service their student loans

The government spent approximately P3.263 billion last year on tertiary education school fees and allowances.

Giving an update this week, Minister of Education and Skills Development Dr. Douglas Letsholathebe said one of the factors that determine the cut-off points for sponsorship is the availability of funds. This year the cut-off points will remain at 36 points.

Dr. Letsholathebe noted that due to principles of Vision 2036 and Sustainable Development Goals that emphasise quality and lifelong learning education, the government has decided to continue to expose local learners to education that will add value to their lives.

Dr. Letsholathebe further said there are other ways of acquiring learning like in TVET institutions, therefore students should not only look at white-collar careers when choosing institutions of learning.

He added that the government is working on a programme that will ensure that government-sponsored students are relieved financially.

If all goes according to plan, students who are sponsored by the government will be given cards through which they will have subsidised food items and transport fees.

The Director in the Department of Tertiary Education Funding, Neo Sebolao, highlighted that online applications for government sponsorship have been upgraded.

A tutorial video of how to apply will be availed in due course to avoid confusion. Sebolao noted that even the Know Your Customer (KYC) papers that students are required to fill out by First National Bank Botswana (FNBB) will be done completely online.

According to Sebolao, former learners who were sponsored by the government and currently working for the government are paying back their loans, however, it is difficult to collect from graduates who do not work for the government.

She urged former learners to come forth and pay back the monies to the government to facilitate the continuation of sponsorship to younger learners.

Sebolao stressed that before a learner is given sponsorship, they sign a Memorandum Of Understanding to make them aware that they must pay back the monies. DTEF will continue to educate people on the importance of repaying government loans.