Francistown High Court Judge, Lot Moroka last week ruled in favour of Rapula Tshenyego, a 37 old graduate who had taken Botswana Qualification Authority (BQA) to court for refusing to recognize his academic qualification.
According to the court documents, Tshenyego who is currently employed at North East District Council, in 2006 did a course at Decatic Commercial School, a private institution in Gaborone. The school was registered and accredited under BQA (Defendant).
The plaintiff (Tshenyego) wrote an examination for a qualification in Public Relations and Personnel Management. The course was run by the Association of Business Managers in Britain.
The course which was part time was mainly distance learning and it ran from 10th January 2005 to 3 August 2006. He wrote an examination and passed and was awarded a Diploma by the Association of Business Managers and Administrators. He submitted his qualification to BQA which was established in 2013 to replace Botswana Tertiary Authority (BOTA).
His qualification was assessed and BQA said that his qualification was equivalent to a Certificate but not a Diploma. He appealed against the decision to BQA but his appeal was rejected.
He then launched a case at Francistown High Court through his lawyer, Kenneth Obeng and served BQA with a summons challenging the decision of BQA. He demanded the court to reverse and order BQA to recognize his qualification as Diploma.
BQA failed to appear in court and did not defend the case.
However last week, Justice Moroka granted an order in default as prayed in particulars of claim from the plaintiff’s lawyer Obeng. He made an order that the certificate of Diploma awarded to the Tshenyego by Association of Business Managers and Administrators in November 2006 is valid.
“This court grants an order of interdict prohibiting defendant from ever downgrading the Diploma awarded by Association of Business Managers and Administration. The defendant will also pay the costs of suit,” said the Judge in conclusion.
