A cancelled P662 million education technology tender has re-emerged as a direct award, raising fresh concerns over procurement transparency and the government’s spending priorities at a time of mounting fiscal strain, with the BCP threatening action
SESUPO RANTSIMAKO
A controversial education technology project that was previously cancelled after procurement irregularities were flagged has resurfaced as a P654.4 million direct award, raising fresh concerns.
The Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education has approved the direct appointment of Emeritus Training Academy to implement an integrated STEM e-learning solution, coding and robotics programme, as well as teacher capacity building over a five-year period.
The contract, valued at P654,444,869.46, is for a project that previously attracted intense scrutiny after the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) found that the ministry had failed to comply with procurement requirements in awarding a tender then valued at approximately P662 million.
The procurement was subsequently challenged in court before it was suspended and later cancelled.
Procurement Concerns
The PPRA’s review of the original tender process found several irregularities, including inadequate transparency, insufficient justification for the procurement method used, and failure by the ministry to comply with prescribed procurement procedures.
However, the project has now returned through a direct award to Emeritus Training Academy.
Concerns Emerge
The latest development has reignited debate over transparency in public procurement and previous regulatory concerns.
Questions remain over what has changed since the cancellation of the original tender, whether the issues raised by the PPRA have been addressed, and the basis for selecting a direct award as the preferred procurement method.
Amid Mounting Fiscal Challenges..
The revival of the project comes at a time when government is facing significant fiscal pressures, with public finances under strain and competing demands for resources across key sectors. Critics question whether committing hundreds of millions of pula to the project represents the best use of scarce public resources, particularly as government struggles to meet its primary financial obligations.
Minister Defends Award
In an interview with this publication, the Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education Nono Kgafela-Mokoka defended the decision, saying “all legal disputes surrounding the procurement had been resolved, allowing government to proceed with the project”.
She said “Emeritus Training Academy was selected because of its expertise and ability to support government’s plans to modernise the education system”.
The minister said the P654 million allocation was not enough to fully realise government’s e-learning ambitions, adding that the reduction from the original tender value was influenced by government’s current financial position.
BCP Threatens Action
Meanwhile, the Botswana Congress Party (BCP) has indicated that it will seek clarity on the revived project.
BCP Shadow Minister for Education Caterpillar Hikuama told the Botswana Gazette that “the party’s parliamentary caucus would meet to determine its next steps, including the possibility of legal action or petitioning the minister”.
“The caucus will meet and decide on the appropriate action to take. We are not ruling out legal action or petitioning the minister,” Hikuama said.