Financing higher education in Botswana

The paper describes the current system of university finance in Botswana, and considers alternative options, including the introduction of student loans. A student loan scheme was first recommended in Botswana in 1966, but has never been implemented. At present all students at the University of Botswana receive bursaries, and in return undertake to work in Botswana after graduation and to pay 5% of their annual gross salary for five years as a form of reimbursement. The author concludes that in effect this represents a combined grant and loan. A Presidential Commission in 1990 recommended that the present Bursary system be reorganized into a grant/loan system, and the Government of Botswana accepts this in principle although the modalities of such a scheme are yet to be finalized.