Career councillors trained

Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) has trained career councillors in anticipation for the upcoming fair scheduled for March 14 to 19.

The capacity building workshop sought to prepare career guidance teachers for the career fair as well as discuss relevant issues regarding the initiative. This year’s career fair ‘BHRD and Career Clinics’ will enable students to make the right decisions regarding their career choices. In a quest to strengthen career guidance further, HRDC recommends that secondary schools should facilitate career fairs in line with sector committee plans, establish career resource centres, procure career guidance assessment tools for use in school.

Manager for Student Planning and Welfare, Dr Marianyana Selelo believes that Guidance and Counselling Senior teachers should at least be assisted with airtime to be able to reach out to their clients as well as revisit the progression structure for Guidance and Counselling in schools. Selelo further noted that it is essential to procure career guidance assessment tools for use in schools. Her view is that engaging Guidance and Counselling teachers to assist during this year’s career fair will result in a one-on–one interactions that will aid in decision-making.

During the workshop, the Agriculture sector emphasised that there is increasing agricultural productivity in livestock and crop sub-sectors, however, low levels of appreciation of the sector. Career guidance clinics are expected to close this gap and ensure that the sector raises farmer income, create direct and indirect employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth.

“In the HRDC–Agricultural plan, teachers, lectures and instructors in Agriculture and natural resources will both be hands-on and theoretically sound so that they can guide students and future workers properly, based on knowledge and practice,” said the representative. 

They further said with the plan, they expect the new Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN) to contribute towards Agricultural transformation through the acquisition of appropriate skills, knowledge and technology. In that regard, teachers and lecturers together with career guidance experts will be expected to play a crucial role.

The fair is expected to start next week at Boipuso Hall from March 14 to 18.  The BRDS fair will follow from the 16th to the 19th.  More than 20 000 students are expected to attend the fair.

The theme is ‘Guidance for Human Resource Development, Gate away towards diversifying Botswana’s economy’.