President Boko Responds to Enraged DDT College Students

“Maele or We Sleep Here”: DDT College Students Camp at Higher Education Ministry Maun/Gaborone – Tensions were mounting as students from DDT College of Medicine stage a sat at the Ministry of Higher Education last night, demanding urgent talks with Minister Prince Maele over the status of their qualifications. For two days, scores of students have camped outside the ministry’s offices, vowing not to leave until the minister addresses their grievances. They accuse authorities of ignoring repeated pleas for clarity about the accreditation of several DDT programmes, warning that their futures are at stake. “We are not here to cause chaos,” one student representative said. “We just want answers about our courses and recognition of our hard work. Until we meet Minister Maele, we are staying put.” The dispute stems from concerns raised by the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) and the Botswana Health Professions Council (BHPC) over DDT College’s compliance with accreditation requirements. Some health-related degrees have reportedly not been fully approved, prompting fears that graduates may be unable to register or find employment in their chosen fields. Parliament’s Education and Skills Development Committee has previously met with college officials about infrastructure and accreditation shortcomings, while students have submitted petitions seeking government intervention or transfers to properly accredited institutions. Despite these efforts, protesters say little progress has been made. They are calling on the ministry to fast-track a solution and to guarantee that fees paid and years invested will not be wasted.