FUNDING FRAUD

DDT College of Medicine is under fire following explosive allegations that it continues to receive public funding for students who have either dropped out, transferred, or never attended classes. The funds, issued by the Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF), allegedly cover tuition and lab fees for learners who are no longer enrolled, according to a suspended Student Representative Council (SRC) member.“Some of the people still reflected on the register are no longer in school. Two got fail and discontinue (FD), one is studying nursing in Zambia, and others dropped out long ago, but their names are still listed, and they continue to be funded as if they are actively enrolled,” he said.The same student claims that certain modules, including Organic Chemistry Lab, have never been taught, despite appearing on DTEF payment schedules.“I went to DTEF personally and asked about these modules. Some of them exist only on paper,” he said, calling it a “scam on the nation’s budget.”There are also allegations that exam results are being processed for students who dropped out long ago, suggesting possible manipulation of academic records.The scandal comes just days after all SRC members and class representatives were abruptly suspended by the college. Many students believe the move was retaliation for their advocacy and a recentvisit by Member of Parliament Lawrence Ookeditse. The suspensions, delivered informally via WhatsApp on August 1st, cited “unbecoming misconduct” with no formal hearings or specific infractions.“One of the suspended students was home for a funeral, and another hasn’t set foot on campus since January,” a source revealed. “This is a witch hunt.”Under Section 3.64 of DDT’s Learner Support Services Policy, the students are now barred from coming within 100 meters of campus or engaging with any stakeholders. The institution claimsinvestigations are ongoing and disciplinary hearings may follow.The SRC had earlier submitted a formal petition to Higher Education Minister Prince Maele and DTEF Director Neo Sebolao following the Botswana Qualifications Authority’s (BQA) revocation of DDT’s license on June 10th. SRC President Gilbert Motlhabi argued that continued funding during this period places both students' futures and taxpayer money at risk.While a temporary High Court order allows the college to operate, the SRC insists that the ruling did not reverse the BQA decision. They claim that any learning or assessment after June 10th remains unaccredited.The petition also invoked the Botswana Consumer Protection Act of 2018, accusing the college of misleading students about the recognition of its degrees—including Doctor Assistant, Physiotherapy, and Medical Laboratory Science. Graduates reportedly struggle to register with professional bodies like the Botswana Health Professions Council (BHPC).Motlhabi also noted the college’s failure to disclose its revoked accreditation status in time, continuing to enroll and invoice new students, even amid poor infrastructure, unfinished buildings, and non-operational labs.“We’re not calling for cancellation of DTEF sponsorships,” he clarified, “but for a temporary suspension of payments until the college is reaccredited and capable of delivering credible education.”He also appealed for September living allowances to be released, arguing that students are now unable to register due to the chaos.In response, DDT College maintains its legal right to operate under the interim court order. In a public statement, the institution accused regulators and politicians of spreading misinformation.It cited a 95.4% compliance rating from BQA’s April 2023 inspection and blamed land-use delays on local government inefficiencies. DDT also accused BHPC of disregarding a court order to license its graduates.The college claims to offer programmes aligned with global standards and pointed to partnerships with institutions like St. George’s University, as well as endorsements from the World Confederation for Physical Therapy. It insists that many graduates have been employed in public health, mining, and the military.DDT further dismissed a separate petition submitted in Parliament by Caterpillar K. Hikuama and backed by 118 students, calling fraud claims “false.” Instead, it alleged the petitioners were trying to pressure management into issuing expulsion letters that would invalidate their sponsorship contracts.Despite multiple requests, the college did not respond to questions sent to them about billing DTEF for non-attending students and untaught modules. Claims of financial irregularities and academic non-delivery also remain unanswered at press time.

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FUNDING FRAUD