News

The University of Botswana (UB) Student Representative Council (SRC) held its first-ever Parliamentary Sitting for the 2025/2026 academic year on the 7th of November, signalling a new era of structured debate and strengthened accountability in student governance.

The session opened with questions on student accommodation, health services, academic administration and welfare. Addressing concerns about the fairness of room allocation, the Minister of Student Affairs, Ms Mpho Rammapudi, explained that 70 percent of accommodation is reserved for first-year students and 30 percent for continuing students, with priority given to vulnerable groups such as Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) and students living with disabilities.

Ms Rammapudi also reaffirmed that voluntary HIV/AIDS testing at the UB Clinic remained confidential and accessible, noting continued collaboration between the SRC and the clinic to raise awareness of available health services.

Student leaders also queried administrative challenges affecting clubs and societies. The SRC Secretary General, Mr Shatho Morgan, announced new measures to streamline communication and coordination, including an updated database of club leaders, a public communication channel for announcements and clearer procedures for requesting venues and transport. Clubs will also be required to submit annual activity plans to improve scheduling.

On academic matters, the Minister of Academic Services, Mr Laone Vincent Rantshokeng, cited system malfunctions as the cause of delayed first-year registration earlier in the year, adding that the IT Department had since implemented periodic maintenance to prevent recurrence.

Mr Rantshokeng highlighted ongoing initiatives such as the Mmadikolo Academic Pitso and efforts to expand the Exam Care Package - currently targeting off-campus students facing financial strain - to also benefit on-campus students. He further reported that the SRC had secured regular meetings with the Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF) to address delays in research allowance disbursements.

Transport issues also came under scrutiny, particularly the sustainability of the subsidised P5.00 fare on Tlokweng Route 4. The house heard that low student uptake threatened the agreement with operators, prompting planned engagements between the SRC and transport associations.

The sitting also received a report on a benchmarking visit to the University of Cape Town (UCT) to study bar and canteen management, undertaken on the recommendation of the UB Council.

A total of eleven (11) motions were tabled. A proposal to introduce ten (10) political representation seats was rejected while motions on sports equipment shortages and the rescheduling of evening examinations were adopted with amendments. Other motions will be debated in the next sitting. The SRC said the parliamentary model was intended to strengthen dialogue, enhance student advocacy and ensure more responsive leadership within the university.