UB Hosts Workshop on Admission Requirements for Northwest Teachers
The University of Botswana staged a one day workshop aimed at empowering, educating and guiding teachers in the North West District at Maun recently.
The workshop was necessitated by the fact that prospective students who apply to study at the University lack necessary information on the admission requirements and specific subject combinations for some of the programmes. Therefore, working with teachers on these issues will ensure transfer of knowledge from the teachers to the students. The information will help students to make informed decisions when applying for their university studies.
It was observed that teachers play a critical role in assisting students to make career choices. The objective of the workshop was to equip teachers with the necessary information to enable them to advice individual students regarding UB admission processes and requirements.
The initiative is in line with the University’s objectives of providing consistent and extensive service to educate prospective students about study opportunities and entry requirements at UB; provide necessary information to prospective students to enable them to make informed choices about the programmes they want to pursue; support school counsellors in their work with students seeking admission to UB and attract quality students to UB
The workshop was officially opened by the Director of HOORC, Prof. Susan Ringrose who called on the teachers to access the library which is one of the best in the region. Prof. Ringrose further briefed the workshop participants on the programmes available at HOORC. She said they are welcome to bring their students for visitations during holidays so as to nurture their interest in the fields of science and nature conversation and environment.
At the event, the Regional Director of Norwest District Mr Monare Lechiile stressed the importance of stakeholder relationships. He said it is imperative for the University to engage the teachers because of their first contact with the students. He said the teachers are not empowered to guide the students on issues of academic requirement of the University of Botswana. He hailed these as a tremendous development that will facilitate career guidance among the students. However, he said this kind of interaction is long overdue, but, described it as a welcome development. “Without doubt this initiative is essential and need to be sustained,” Monare observed. He further called the University of Botswana to host these workshops annually and to inform teachers on any changes in academic admission requirements. Mr. Monare urged the University to cascade this workshop to the parents as they play a critical role in selecting universities for their children.
The Department of Academic Services represented by Mrs. Sanah Laletsang and Mr. Linus Dingalo provided a breakdown of academic programmes and requirements of the University. Specific admission programme requirements were dissected to give the participants a feel of how the University admissions are processed. Mr Dingalo took the participants through the grading points system.
The Director Public Affairs, Mrs. Mhitshane Reetsang said the University of Botswana has come to the realization that teachers play a crucial link to the students. She told them that in the past, the University of Botswana had produced human resource for the country. In the same breath, she announced that the University has shifted to produce graduates that are required by the market. Mrs. Reetsang futher briefed them that the University of Botswana intends to be a research intensive university.
A vote of thanks was delivered by Mr Smith Otladisang who thanked UB for recognizing the teachers. He said the workshop shows and affirms that the Careers and Guidance Units are important and integral part of the schools and that issues of counseling and guidance can not take place without them. He appealed to the University to to cascade the information to learners and teachers so that they can help the students make informed decisions. He said that the teachers have learned a lot that they did not understand about the programmes. He noted that from now on teachers will be representing the University. “Communities need the Uuniversity. People want to get close to the University,” he said.