"The government should think of privatising some activities in schools such as feeding, toilet cleaning and security. We believe the government is losing a lot in the current system," he said. He was speaking before the Presidential Commission reviewing salaries and conditions of service in the public service at Tutume Education Centre.
He said that teachers lose more time supervising these activities which are not in line with their job description. He explained that teachers are meant to teach students and not to act as prefects during feeding time or making sure that toilets are clean. "Let the teachers focus their energy on teaching not anything else," he told the commissioners.
He indicated that the teachers' workload is very huge even without some of the responsibilities which need to be privatised. He proposed that labour movements like Botswana Secondary Teachers' Union (BOSETU) should be given the responsibility of running some of the government schemes meant to benefit teachers. He believes that as privatisation is profit-driven, it will drive up interest rates and teachers would feel the pinch because their salaries are very low. Surrendering the schemes to labour unions would cushion the general membership against exorbitant rates.
