Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) recently hosted a stakeholder engagement meeting to address critical issues affecting Botswana’s Higher Education sector. The session brought together the Ministry of Higher Education, Business Botswana, the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC).
The delegation from the Ministry was led by Permanent Secretary Professor Nelson Torto, whose presence reinforced the urgency and seriousness with which the Ministry views the current issues.
From BQA’s side, Chief Executive Officer, Professor Botsalano Mosimakoko, emphasized the Authority’s commitment to ensuring that accreditation processes are not just robust, but also responsive and supportive of the sector’s realities. She reiterated that meaningful transformation can only take place when ETPs, professional bodies, and oversight institutions work hand in hand, not in parallel, but in alignment.
Permanent Secretary Professor Nelson Torto assured stakeholders that the Ministry is taking steps to address certain challenges swiftly especially those that don’t require BQA Board-level decisions. His assurance to Business Botswana and other attendees brought a sense of renewed confidence that change is underway.
The meeting provided a space for realigning expectations and strengthening relationships between regulatory bodies and the institutions they serve. Discussions touched on common administrative hurdles encountered by Education and Training Providers (ETPs), including registration timelines, accreditation and institutional auditing processes.
By fostering transparent dialogue and strengthening partnerships across the sector, BQA continues to position itself not only as a regulator but as a responsive and forward-looking partner in national development. This meeting marked yet another step forward in BQA’s broader mission of "Building a Seamless Education and Training System."