The Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF) has officially announced its sponsorship plan for the upcoming 2024 academic year, outlining key priorities to support Botswana’s aspiring tertiary students. The launch event, officiated by the Honourable Minister of Higher Education, Prince Maele, provided vital information on eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and approved academic programmes.
This year, the government will sponsor a total of 12,034 students—a significant increase of over 2,000 beneficiaries compared to the previous academic year. Minister Maele emphasized the government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education as a strategic priority for national development.
“Government will sponsor a total of 12,034 students this year, an increase of over 2,000 students compared to the previous year,” Minister Maele stated. He further revealed that the government has allocated a robust budget exceeding 3 billion pula to fund tertiary education sponsorships for deserving students across Botswana.
However, the Minister also announced that the much-anticipated increase in the tertiary school allowances to 2,500 pula, which had been pledged in the government manifesto, will not be implemented this year due to financial constraints.
“The government of Botswana will not raise the tertiary school allowances to 2,500 as they pledged in their manifesto, due to financial considerations,” Minister Maele explained.
Prospective students are encouraged to carefully review the eligibility requirements and approved programmes listed by the DTEF to ensure successful applications. The department aims to maintain transparency and efficiency throughout the application process, enabling more young Batswana to pursue tertiary education both locally and abroad.
As Botswana continues to invest heavily in human capital development, the increased number of sponsorships demonstrates the government’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of professionals who will contribute to the country’s socio-economic growth.
