The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) wishes to put into context findings of the study that appeared as newsworthy in the current edition of the Sunday Standard. We at HRDC hold in high esteem the quality of Sunday Standard newspaper, however, we express our dismay that they have not accorded us the right of reply on such material that has the potential of misleading the nation and causing unnecessary friction between concerned parties.
The facts of the matter are that:
1. As mentioned by names, we were contacted for the purpose of the research study conducted by the Centre for Higher Education Transformation (CHET) as respondents. However, the two articles extracted from the report and carried in the same edition are indeed contradictory on their own terms.
2. While the hard news article in the prominent pages attempts to paint a scenario where HRDC was sidelined by the political leadership in the ultimate decisions that saw the birth of Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), the analysis piece offers a contradictory viewpoint where it is alleged that HRDC management decries the absence of independence in the execution of our daily functions.
3. We put it on record that we were never sidelined as alleged and it must be stated that more than 80 percent of our recommendations formed the core of what led to BIUST being established. Our draft policies to advise Government were approved and as the report findings themselves suggest, our autonomy as a regulator back then was never in doubt as we registered and accredited those institutions that met the selection criteria. In fact such a law and practice has informed the new role taken up by the Botswana Qualifications Authority in registering and accrediting institutions after subjecting them to rigorous screening.
4. We therefore, do not know of the recommendations we were meant to have made to the task force seized with the setup of the university, that the in-depth article casts as having been rejected, more so because of a perceivedsemi-militaristic culture in the public service. We can only surmise this is mere speculation and imagination on the part of the researchers as that did not emerge out of the interviews.
5. As captured in the same article though, the evidence of our independence is demonstrated in that neither the Minister of Education, nor the President had superimposed their desires on HRDC at any material time to register institutions that did not meet the mark of distinction as per the requirements and guideline policies.
In conclusion, we deem it unethicalthat the researchers and publishers of the report, went ahead and published the report in the website before validating it with the respondents, particularly with respect to how the nation stands to benefit from its wide circulation in the media. This smacks of dishonesty and insincerity on their part as publishers.We urge them to up their ante where ethical considerations andprofessionalism areconcerned.
Notwithstanding the above, we are actively taking up the matter with the publishers of the report. Once completed, we shall be at liberty to share value-adding facts with the nation. We kindly ask the Sunday Standard newspaper or any media house to allow us time to conclude ourconsultationsrather than respond piece-meal to media enquiries on the matter.
BY MANAGEMENT
