Apprenticeship in Botswana

Public vocational training centres (Brigades), Vocational Centres and Technical Colleges provide training in areas including vehicle mechanics, electrical installation, refrigeration and air-conditioning, plumbing, bricklaying and plastering, carpentry, water and borehole mechanics, hospitality, clothing, agriculture, welding and metal fabrication. Programmes, locations and qualification levels differ by institution. For example, Technical Colleges are located in Maun, Jwaneng, Palapye and Selebi-Phikwe; in addition, the national qualifications authority (Botswana Qualifications Authority) maintains a register of private and workplace training providers. Public programmes follow the National Credit and Qualifications Framework. Certificate 3 is typically open to people with a Junior Certificate or an equivalent qualification and lasts twelve months according to the 2026 announcement. Certificate 4 usually requires Certificate 3 in a relevant field or an equivalent qualification and also lasts twelve months. The National Craft Certificate generally requires Trade Test B or an equivalent level-4 qualification. A complete application usually includes a certified identity card or passport, certificates and proof of payment; the age limit, deadline, programme and location depend on the relevant announcement. The current public announcement specifies ages 16 to 35, while general admission information also covers citizens and non-citizens from age 16. A workplace apprenticeship does not work like a short twelve-month course. An approved company provides training in a suitable occupation, enters into a registered contract with the apprentice and supplements workplace activity with instruction and examinations at an institution. Depending on the occupation, this route usually lasts three to four years; for tourism occupations such as chef or waiter, the rules often provide for three years. Prior knowledge, demonstrated competencies or longer absences may shorten or extend the duration under the applicable rules. A company is not automatically required to continue employing the apprentice after completion. A workplace apprenticeship typically requires at least age 16, a Junior Certificate or Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education, or an equivalent qualification. Depending on the entry route, it may also require Standard 7 together with a Trade Certificate, good English skills and a medical examination. The application usually requires certified supporting documents and three copies of the contract; for minors, a parent or guardian also signs. A sponsoring company and a specific occupation suitable for training are required. The contract sets out duties, learning components and rights. The company provides the contract-related work, tools, materials and protective clothing, grants paid leave for instruction and examinations, and covers necessary travel to the institution or tests. Apprentices attend classes, follow reasonable instructions, work carefully, protect tools, maintain confidentiality and take part in the relevant assessments. Special working-time rules apply to minors; overtime is not permitted. Adults may work longer only within employment law and without impairing their training. A registered contract protects both parties more strongly than an informal arrangement. Remuneration depends on the contract year; a central nationwide wage level has not been verified here. In cases of certified illness or injury, paid periods of absence may apply depending on the rules, and provisions also apply to public holidays and maternity. Disputes can be reported to the apprenticeship officer (Apprenticeship Officer). An unregistered apprenticeship may be legally invalid; individual contract deadlines conflict in older forms and statutory versions and should be checked against the current rules before signing. According to government information, public learners may receive a monthly stipend of P2,200; the amount was increased from P300 in August 2025. This stipend is not the same as the wage in a workplace apprenticeship. The human resource development council (Human Resource Development Council) supports employers through the Human Resource Development Fund with certain training costs, including for apprentices and trainees. Levy rates, reimbursement conditions and deadlines depend on the current procedure. Qualifications are assessed under Botswana Qualifications Authority rules by registered or accredited institutions and recognised awarding bodies. Formative and final assessments may include internal and external moderation as well as registered examiners and moderators. In an apprenticeship, practical and theoretical standards and, depending on the occupation, trade tests are included. Successful completion may lead to a Completion Certificate. Certificate 3, Certificate 4 and the National Craft Certificate build on one another only when the relevant programme is offered at the respective location. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and credit accumulation and transfer (Credit Accumulation and Transfer) may take into account recognised occupational, workplace or informally acquired prior knowledge, but do not guarantee a training place. Demand can significantly limit selection. At Kanye Brigade, for example, 3,625 applications were submitted for 120 places in 2025; this figure describes only that location. After completion, employment, self-employment or starting a business may be possible, but no automatic job follows. People who later want to obtain a vocational qualification for the first time may, depending on their situation, consider workplace training, workplace programmes or recognition of existing competencies; no separately verified national adult pathway exists. Responsibilities and designations are distributed among, among others, the Ministry of Higher Education with its Department of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, the Botswana Qualifications Authority and the Human Resource Development Council. Programme, location, costs, deadlines and the responsible examination body should therefore always be checked against the current announcement or the specific contract.