PALAPYE - The Botswana Training Authority (BOTA) affiliates in Palapye have heard that workplaces can also be registered as training providers.

This was revealed by BOTAs workplace support specialist, Mr Moremedi Kooneilwe during a one-day Vocational Training Fund seminar in Palapye recently.

Mr Kooneilwe informed the affiliates that for a workplace to be recognised as a training provider, it has to be registered first and the modules used in training to be accredited with BOTA.

For you to be recognised as training providers in the workplace, you have to meet the set criteria required for the training providers. I would also like to inform you that you can have your supervisors as trainers. It is not about having a degree but the necessary skills.

He noted that registering a workplace as a training provider has many advantages.

Having your workplace as a training provider has advantages as it saves you money, creates an atmosphere of self-reliance and motivates your employees. Moreover it creates career opportunities in the workplace.

Mr Kooneilwe added that BOTA will also need information equivalent to a business plan for registration purposes.

In her presentation, the Vocational Training Fund manager, Ms Lebogang Mpinang briefed the affiliates about the levy/grant system.

Ms Mpinang said the Vocational Training Fund levy system is aimed at increasing the amount of quality work-based training.

Ladies and gentlemen the system also ensures that there are the right skills for the employees.

In regard to the training levy, Ms Mpinang pointed out that the levy is a tax based on any employer turnover.

After being collected the levy is then deposited into the vocational training fund. The purpose of the fund is to reimburse the employer in terms of the cost of training its citizen employees.

Ms Mpinang emphasised that the reimbursement from the fund will only be approved for vocational training courses accredited by BOTA or approved in advance if there were carried outside Botswana.

Training in the workplace will also qualify for reimbursement if the training programme is accredited with BOTA or the trainee is registered as a learner with BOTA.

Responding to the presentations, the affiliates proposed that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning should harmonise the vocational training fund levy, the tourism and accommodation levy and construction industry trust fund levy. In his closing remarks, one of the participants, Mr Benedict Bayani commended BOTA for organising the seminar.

We are grateful for the seminar as we have learnt a lot about the Vocational Training Fund. It is indeed a step in the right direction, he said. BOPA