PETITION BY CONCERNED BATSWANA AND STUDENTS OF TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES REGARDING SCHOOL FEES INCREASE.

We the undersigned are bona fide students of TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES and we petition the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Research, Science and Technology to set aside the school fees increment as there was no consultation with us and we were only informed of this change on August 24 2021 through social media.

As the concerned parties, we therefore remind you to take into consideration the memorandum of agreement between us. The decision by your Ministry is ill-informed and mistimed as we are in the middle of a pandemic: you cannot demand for money from us yet you do not have it yourselves as you always say. Us, the undersigned, we will not be able to meet your demands as our sponsors have been retrenched, received pay cuts and the lockdown regulations have made it impossible to source for funds to even cover our initial agreement.

THE SUDENTS OF TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES DEMAND THE FOLLOWING FROM THE MINISTERY OF TERTIARY EDUCATION, RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BY SEPTEMBER 2nd 2021;

1.That the Ministry gives students a detailed report that influenced them to arrive at the decision of increasing school fees.

2.That the Ministry immediately set aside the school fees increment so that it does not affect students that have already signed the memorandum of agreement with institutions.

3.That the Ministry halts increase of school fees until COVID-19 is stabilised and the economy is open to all.

4.That the Ministry publicly apologies to the parents, guardians and affected students for causing them emotional stress through all forms of government communication.