The Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs has held a consultative meeting with Student Representative Council leaders from various tertiary institutions to discuss challenges affecting students and identify practical solutions. The engagement created a platform for student leaders to raise concerns directly with government officials and contribute to discussions about policies that affect their education and future prospects. Issues raised included delayed allowances, unaccredited courses, graduate unemployment, mental health challenges and limited support after graduation. The meeting also focused on the need for stronger coordination between government, tertiary institutions and young people. By bringing student representatives into direct discussions with policymakers, the Ministry is seeking to strengthen youth participation and ensure that solutions are shaped by the experiences of the people they are intended to serve.
Welcoming the students, Permanent Secretary Ms. Natasha Rampa emphasised the importance of engaging young people directly when developing government programmes and policies. She said the Ministry’s work should be developed with youth and guided by the principle of “nothing for you without you.” The approach recognises that young people have direct knowledge of the challenges they face in education, employment, health and other areas of development. Their involvement can help government identify problems earlier and develop policies that respond to actual experiences rather than assumptions. Meaningful consultation can also strengthen trust between young people and public institutions by giving students a clear opportunity to influence decisions that affect their lives.
Representatives from the Ministry used the meeting to explain their respective mandates and highlight initiatives aimed at supporting young people and promoting gender equality. Acting Director of the Gender Affairs Department Ms. Bonolo Makosha reaffirmed the department’s commitment to implementing and monitoring the National Policy on Gender and Development. The policy provides a framework for promoting gender sensitivity across both the public and private sectors. Makosha also highlighted priorities that include developing specific legislation on gender-based violence and reviewing national protection strategies. These measures are intended to strengthen protections while ensuring that gender considerations remain part of national development and public policy.
The Gender Affairs Department’s work is organised around five key pillars, namely economic development, social protection, democratic governance, access to justice and special protective measures. These areas recognise that gender equality requires action across multiple parts of society rather than focusing on a single issue. Economic development can help address inequalities in access to opportunities and resources, while social protection can provide support to vulnerable groups. Access to justice is also important for ensuring that people can seek protection and appropriate remedies when their rights are violated. By working across these pillars, the department aims to strengthen systems that promote equality, protection and participation.
Acting Director of Youth Mr. Kristian Mmusi explained that the Youth Department serves as a central coordinator for youth development initiatives across Botswana. He noted that the Ministry, with support from UNICEF, is restructuring the Youth Development Fund to strengthen its contribution to entrepreneurship and youth empowerment. The Youth Development Fund has the potential to provide young people with access to opportunities that can help them establish businesses and develop sustainable sources of income. Strengthening the programme could also support broader efforts to address youth unemployment and encourage young people to participate more actively in the economy. The department’s wider focus areas include education, health, economic empowerment, civic engagement and environmental sustainability.
Minister of Youth and Gender Affairs Hon. Lesego Chombo acknowledged that limited coordination across government systems has contributed to administrative challenges affecting tertiary students. Such challenges can have a direct impact on students when they involve financial support, documentation, academic programmes or access to government services. Poor coordination can also create uncertainty for students who need clear information about the processes they must follow to resolve problems. Addressing these issues requires government departments and educational institutions to improve communication and establish clearer responsibilities. The Minister’s acknowledgement of the problem provides an important starting point for developing more coordinated systems that respond to student concerns efficiently.
Hon. Chombo also called for a change in how government approaches youth participation. Rather than viewing young people only as passive beneficiaries of government programmes, she encouraged stakeholders to recognise them as active partners and co-creators of solutions. This approach gives young people a greater role in identifying problems, developing proposals and monitoring whether interventions are producing meaningful results. Students and other young people can provide valuable perspectives because they experience the effects of education, employment and social policies directly. Stronger collaboration between government, tertiary institutions and young people can therefore help produce solutions that are more practical, responsive and sustainable.
To strengthen ongoing youth participation, Hon. Chombo proposed establishing an all-SRC consultative forum. Such a forum would provide a structured platform where student leaders from different tertiary institutions can continue engaging government beyond individual meetings. She also proposed that student concerns be recorded in an action register so that issues can be tracked and followed up. This could help prevent concerns raised during consultations from being forgotten after meetings end. A system that records issues, assigns responsibility and monitors progress could also improve accountability and give students clearer information about how government and institutions are responding to their concerns.
The Minister further advocated for greater youth representation in leadership positions, arguing that young people should have meaningful opportunities to participate in decision-making. Increased youth representation could improve the flow of information between government and younger citizens while providing policymakers with perspectives based on current youth experiences. It could also support succession planning by giving young people opportunities to develop leadership skills and gain experience in governance. Hon. Chombo encouraged young people to take an active role in developing sustainable solutions that promote independence and self-reliance. Her message placed responsibility on both government and young people to work together towards solutions that can produce lasting benefits.
Student representatives used the consultation to highlight several challenges affecting tertiary students and young graduates. Among their concerns were delayed allowances, unaccredited courses and limited support for students after graduation. They also raised the issue of graduate unemployment, which remains a major concern for young people who complete their studies but struggle to find suitable employment opportunities. Mental health challenges were also highlighted, showing the need for stronger support systems within tertiary institutions and wider youth programmes. Students further pointed to disparities in resources between urban and rural areas and called for greater accountability and clearer pathways for both university graduates and young people who follow other education and training routes.
The concerns raised by student leaders demonstrate that youth development requires a coordinated approach that extends beyond tertiary education. Students need reliable financial support, quality and accredited academic programmes, career guidance and pathways into employment or entrepreneurship. Young people who do not attend university also require opportunities to develop skills, access financing and participate in the economy. Addressing these needs requires cooperation between government departments, tertiary institutions, employers, training providers and young people themselves. A stronger system of coordination could help ensure that young people receive support at different stages of their education and transition into employment or entrepreneurship.
The consultative meeting represents an important step towards strengthening the relationship between Botswana’s government and its young people. The issues raised by SRC leaders provide policymakers with direct insight into the practical challenges facing students and graduates across different institutions and communities. The proposed all-SRC consultative forum and action register could provide a more structured way of maintaining dialogue and tracking progress on outstanding concerns. At the same time, greater youth representation in leadership and decision-making could help ensure that young people have a stronger voice in shaping policies that affect their future. The Ministry of Youth and Gender Affairs has reaffirmed that young people should not simply be consulted about decisions affecting them, but should be meaningfully involved in developing the solutions, strengthening accountability and building a more inclusive future for Botswana.
