The University of Botswana is one of the highest learning institutions in the country and one would think that’s where the brains of this country should be found. But alas my recent experience with the admissions department made me think twice about a belief I have held dear over a number of years, having been a product of the same university myself.
I remember back in the day (1992) when we would go to the Student Placement and obtain a letter which would inform us what course we would do having looked at how we had performed at secondary school level. This letter would then be taken to the University of Botswana and there our career would begin.
For some of us who came from less privileged homes, we didn’t care what we were going to study as long as we were in University. We were hearing the names of some the courses we were to study for the first time, having been to Tswana medium schools all our life. But who cared then? We were out to make a name for ourselves and that entailed coming out of University with a degree, whatever degree it was didn’t concern us much.
Well, things seem to have taken a drastic change since those days. Last year I heard of an incident where the University of Botswana said they would accept the students on first come first serve basis regardless of what points they have obtained. In our time there was no point system and I tell you getting to University was almost guaranteed by your achievement at secondary school.
I remember first hearing the first come first serve issue and I honestly took it as a joke. How can a high learning institutions base their decision on taking what we consider as the leaders of tomorrow on a first come first serve basis? Anyway as I was far removed from that occurrence and also too far away to have witnessed it, I now can’t help but I agree that indeed something like that must have taken place.
My encounter with the University of Botswana started on the 23rd March 2011 which is the day my child applied for a place at the University. The courses were advertised showing cut off points which was to determine the suitability of the child as well as giving the child an understanding of what courses they would qualify for (this is still showing on their websites). The children applied with three options of the courses they would like to be considered for and with guidance and assistance from the university staff, also having looked at how the children had fared in their examinations.
Around the 23rd June when we had not heard from the university we decided to make the long trip to Gaborone to find out what could be the problem as my child had qualified for all the three courses she had applied for. We were told after waiting the whole day at the university that the child had not been accepted and we needed to re-apply. We re-applied with the assistance of the staff at the University for a course whose cut off points was 39 and the child having obtained 40 points we were almost certain that she would be accepted.
On the 7th July I made the long trip to the institute of higher learning again and met a certain lady who works at UB ( I have her names with me), who told me that my child has not been accepted yet again. I made conversation with her just to get her thinking about their processes and the way they carry out their placement and our conversation went something like this.
Me: “So how come the child has not been accepted in any of the four courses they had applied for”?
UB rep: “We had to increase the points for the courses we had advertised as we work according to a quota that must enter UB”?
Me: “So what happened to the re-application as when we did that we were guided by your staff and they advised for this particular course even though I in my little wisdom had said the child should apply for Humanities”?
UB: “She should have applied for Humanities then she would have been taken, in Humanities the cut off was 34 points, all the students I helped I encouraged them to apply for Humanities as there were a lot of spaces there”.
Me: “Whats the next step since the course she applied for falls within Humanities? Can’t the child be considered for Humanities then”?
UB lady: “No we have closed and there is nothing that can be done at this point in time”.
Me: “So you want to tell me that there are students who have done considerably well and have not been placed and there are others who have done average at 34 points and have been admitted”?
UB: “Yes it all depends on what course the child has selected”.
Me: “Lets talk logic now, what’s wrong with you first of all advertising the right points when inviting children to apply, as when you do take applications the results are already out? Why should you advertise a course for example saying entry points is 40 then secretly you pick it up to 45 once you have received the applications? Why can’t you advertise the right thing having taken a look at all the results for that particular year? Secondly why can’t you assess the applicants who have applied and do not meet the course they have applied for and give them one that’s relevant to their points? Do you think it is fair that a child who has 40 points is out in the street when children with 34 points are admitted into university”?
UB: “I do understand what you are saying but we are guided by the quota that we are given to accept children. There are children who have scored 45 points who have not been placed (and this lady says this with no emotions whatsoever)”.
Me: (me assuming the lady must be a parent and must know exactly what I am going through right this minute when she tells me what she has told me) “What do you think I should do now”?
UB: “There is nothing that can be done. You just have to wait for next year”.
I was amazed that all these processes are still being done manually even in this age at the institute of higher learning. I would have thought by now after so many years of existence they would have automated their processes.
Anyway here I am as a parent with a child who has been at home since she wrote her Cambridge exams ten months ago, who is to remain at home for another year not because she has not done well but just because of some unfair system at out institution of higher learning.
I am left wondering what to do with a child who is under-age, who can’t even get a job in this country to keep her mind from idling, to keep busy while waiting for next year this time. I wonder how many parents are in my shoes. I wonder where one goes to seek re-dress, every door that I have been to at UB has told me the same story as if they sat and re-hearsed it. I have cried out to God about this but as you all might know God answers in His time and at the moment would have loved for Him to answer in my time for once as now is the time the child is stressed and stressing me out.
A teenager at home for almost two years, Lord give me strength. I have decided that You in Your higher wisdom knows exactly what is going on and what will be so will stop knocking at doors and calling all over the place. But at least the university staff and I agree that their process is unfair and does not consider merit. It’s high time that the University Management looks into the admissions side of things and ensures that things are done fairly.
The Botswana Government has decided that they do not sponsor children out of the country and one is left wondering what options are available. My child will be a statistic but I thought before she becomes one I need to write about this and tell the parents out there that you must make several options for your children, don’t be like me, taking it for granted that once your child has passed it is obvious they will be admitted at this university at home.
Nobody prepared me for this so at least I am getting you ready for the chaos at our institute of higher learning. Lord please keep her away from teenage pregnancy, from drugs and alcohol and most importantly from her thinking she is a failure and ultimately taking her life or something weird like that. I know it’s not going to be easy in our household, I am already in a state and as a parent need to be strong for her.
The Education system in Botswana needs a serious re-vamp and there is a need for an appeal’s office of some sort or committee at the higher learning institute known as the University of Botswana to re-look into issues of unfairness there.
In conclusion The Minister of Education must step in to address issues at University which are really heartbreaking especially to students who have passed, we are not asking for favours here but for a more fair and sensible way of admitting students to the University of Botswana.
Editor’s note
The writer is a civil servant and has asked for her name to be withheld.
