By Tumisang Kelatlhilwe
All not is well at the Maun Technical College (MTC), as the institution is reported to be faced with lack of learning equipment and machinery, books and protective clothing which makes learning difficult for students.
This surfaced during a tour of the vocational institution by the Minister of Higher Education Prince Maele. Maele though these countrywide tours seek to gain insights into the current state of vocational institutions with the aim of identifying challenges and subsequently exploring potential solutions.
During the visit, MTC Head, Pono Saubi revealed that they are short staffed, lamenting that this has led to the low enrollment at the institution. According to her, they have currently enrolled only 450 learners against the college’s enrollment capacity of 700 learners.
She noted that the reason of enrolling less number is for them to be able to manage it highlighting the welding program on which they admitted only 19 students instead of the usual 48.
Saubi further revealed that they mostly work with temporary teachers who work on contracts. She lamented that when the contracts end, the learners are left idling until the contracts are renewed.
The college head also indicated another challenge faced by learners after completion of their course of not being accepted in other diploma offering technical colleges when seeking to enhance their studies. Saubi has since pleaded with the Ministry for MTC to start offering diploma courses for their learners to continue to the next level without any difficulties.
When addressing the challenges, the minister urged for the removal of bureaucratic barriers and further called for swift, decisive action to expedite the transformation of the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector.
Maele also noticed that there are so many vacancies at the institution yet that remain unoccupied. He pleaded for those vacancies to be filled and allow those who are acting to be appointed in order to strengthen the system and enhance the quality of technical education.
Meanwhile, the minister has urged TVET lecturers to impart entrepreneurship qualities and skills in their learners to addresses issues pertaining to unemployment and growth of the economy. Maele urged lecturers to encourage learners to set up their own businesses after college for self-growth, employment creation and to enhance economic growth.
He highlighted the importance of TVET in addressing the growing demand for skilled workers in key sectors of the economy, which will ultimately contribute to reducing unemployment and enhancing economic growth. “Setting up will also help with the growth of the private sector as the economy is government led,” he added.
