Boitekanelo College heralded the introduction of a new degree program as a significant milestone for the institution.
The institution recently introduced the Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy, accredited by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT).
The federation is an international body responsible for overseeing the profession of occupational therapy, including education, quality assurance, and regulation of the profession.
Dr. Tiro Mampani, founder and president of Boitekanelo College, stated that the accreditation of the program by the federation signifies that graduates from the college will be marketable both locally and internationally.
โWe feel this is an important milestone in a country where graduates often struggle to get employed,โ said Dr. Mampani.
โAs an institution, we feel proud of having managed to reach this milestone where our programme is internationally recognised.โ
He acknowledged that Botswana lacks professionals in occupational therapy. He expects the new programme to increase the number of occupational therapists in the country.
According to the President of the Botswana Association of Occupational Therapists, Misani Monthe, there are only 39 professionals on the ground in district hospitals.
โThis is a very low number for a population of about 2.4 million,โ said Monthe.
โWe have regions that still donโt have occupational therapists on the ground and we have areas with one servicing a very large population.โ
The number includes those in the private, NGOs, mining and medical funds, as well as public hospitals.
Monthe said the approval of the learning programme by the WFOT is a vote of confidence in the college to offer quality education.
โThis also means the college can enrol students from outside the country,โ Monthe said.
For his part, Assistant Minister of Health, Sethomo Lelatisitswe, said the accreditation validates Boitekanelo Collegeโs dedication to excellence. He said it is also a testament to the commitment to advancing the field of occupational therapy globally.
โOccupation therapy is a critical component of allied health sciences focusing on enabling the general population to participate in meaningful activities,โ said Lelatisitswe.
โIt encompasses a wide range of interventions aimed at promoting independence, improving quality of life and facilitating participation in everyday activities.โ
Lelatisitswe commended the college for emerging as the first tertiary institution to offer the program in the country, describing it as highly commendable for bridging the existing skill gap in this profession.
โThis training of highly skilled workforce will significantly improve our service delivery in our health institutions for patients needing rehabilitation,โ he said.
โCurrently in Botswana, we have a total of 39 occupational therapists in practice, both in private and public hospitals.โ
Achieving accreditation by the WFOT, the Assistant Minister said it is a significant accomplishment that demonstrates the collegeโs commitment to meeting global standards of excellence in occupational therapy education.
โIt is important to acknowledge the significance of accreditation in ensuring the quality and integrity of tertiary education and improving service delivery by the Ministry of Health to Batswana,โ stated Lelatisitswe.
โThis accreditation provides assurance to students, employers and the public that graduates from this programme are ready to meet the demands of the profession.โ
WFOT representative, Dr. Tecla Mlambo, said the federation represents about 633,000 occupational therapists globally.
โIt sets standards for occupational therapy education internationally and promotes excellence in research in practice,โ explained Dr. Mlambo, also WFOT Director of Education.
โThe WFOT currently has 1,110 approved programmes worldwide.โ
She explained that the process that is followed in the accreditation of these programmes is quite rigorous and involves member countries.
The WFOT sets the minimum standards of education for its member countries which Dr. Mlambo said are reviewed periodically.
Boitanelo College developed the program in collaboration with the University of Cape Town and introduced it in August last year, with the first cohort expected to graduate in 2027.
The institution will enrol between 30 and 40 students annually according to Dr. Mampani.
