Key Benefits:
3. Establishment of Botswana Training Authority
There is hereby established a training authority to be known as the Botswana Training Authority which shall be a body corporate with a common seal, capable of suing and being sued and subject to the provisions of this Act, of performing such acts as bodies corporate may, by law, perform.
4. Principal objectives of Authority
The principal objectives of the Authority shall be to-
(a) co-ordinate vocational training activities in order to achieve better integration and harmonisation of the vocational training system being developed;
(b) monitor and evaluate the performance of the vocational training system being developed in order to ensure the successful performance of all training activities; and
(c) advise on policy related issues of vocational training.
(1) There is hereby established a Board to exercise the powers and functions of the Authority which shall be composed of twenty members consisting of-
(a) one person appointed by the Minister, subject to subsection (2), as the chairperson of the Board;
(b) six persons appointed by the Minister representing the Government;
(c) three persons appointed by the Minister having a particular expertise in vocational training;
(d) ten persons to be appointed by the Minister upon being nominated as follows-
(i) 4 members nominated by organisations for the time being representing employers;
(ii) 4 members nominated by organisations for the time being representing employees;
(iii) 2 members nominated by non-governmental organisations that manage privately owned vocational training institutions.
(2) The Minister shall, after consultation with the organisations for the time being representing employers, employees and institutions of vocational training, appoint a person of experience and expertise in matters related to vocational training, as chairperson of the Board.
(3) The members of the Board shall appoint, from among their number, a vice-chairperson.
(4) The Chief Executive Officer shall be the Secretary of the Board and as Secretary shall be entitled to attend and take part in the proceedings of every meeting of the Board but shall not vote.
(5) The persons to be nominated and appointed members of the Board under subsection (1) shall be those qualified on account of experience and expertise in matters relating to the functions of the Board.
(6) Every member of the Board shall, unless the member sooner resigns or otherwise ceases to hold office, hold office for a period not exceeding three years.
(7) At the expiry of the term of membership, a member of the Board is eligible for reappointment.
6. Disqualification from appointment as a Board member
No person shall be appointed or be qualified to hold office as a Board member if that member-
(a) has been adjudged or otherwise become insolvent or bankrupt under any law in any country and has not been rehabilitated or discharged;
(b) has made an assignment to, or arrangement or composition with creditors which has not been rescinded or set aside;
(c) is of unsound mind;
(d) has within a period of ten years preceding the date of the proposed appointment, been convicted, whether within or outside Botswana, of any criminal offence and sentenced by a court of competent jurisdiction to imprisonment for six months or more without the option of a fine;
(e) is a member of Parliament;
(f) has been disqualified or suspended, being the holder of professional qualifications, from practising the trade or skill in Botswana or any other country by order of a competent authority.
A Board member shall vacate office and the office shall become vacant-
(a) if the member becomes disqualified to hold office as a member in accordance with section 6;
(b) if the member is absent from three consecutive meetings of the Board without reasonable excuse;
(c) upon the member's death;
(d) upon the expiry of one month's notice, given in writing by the member to the Minister of the member's intention to resign from office;
(e) upon the expiry of such time as the Minister may specify in writing of the member's removal from office;
(f) if the member becomes mentally or physically incapable of performing the duties as a member of the Board; or
(g) if he is convicted of an offence under this Act or any other Act for which the member is sentenced to imprisonment for a term of six months or more without the option of a fine.
If a vacancy occurs in the membership of the Board in accordance with section 7, the Minister may appoint, in accordance with this Act, any person to fill the vacancy and the person so appointed shall hold office for the unexpired period of the term of office of the member who vacated office.
There shall be paid to the members out of the Fund, such fees and allowances as the Minister may, from time to time determine.
