BOTEPCO engages Local Gov't councils in consultations
Staff Writer | Tuesday April 9, 2024 09:29
The first engagement started with Gaborone City Full Council meeting held recently at the Council Chambers in Gaborone.
During his address, the Registrar Dr Raphael Dingalo emphasised the importance of sharing the parastatal's mandate with councillors, in recognition of their significance as community leaders who deal with various stakeholders, including teachers. Dr Dingalo highlighted that teachers play a crucial role in connecting students, other educators, school administrators, families, and community members to foster learning success and healthy development.
He cited International Policy Briefs, noting that collaboration amongst schools, parents, families, and communities leads to higher academic achievement, regular school attendance, longer retention and enrollment in higher-level programmes. Dr Dingalo also outlined the five priority areas for BOTEPCO in professionalising the teaching fraternity. He said these include Stakeholder Engagement, Registration and Licencing System; gazetting the regulations, Teaching Standards, Code of Ethics, and Continuous Professional Development Framework. GCC Deputy Mayor, Oduetse Tautona, expressed appreciation for the new parastatal’s initiative in engaging them and praised its staff’s professional conduct.
This sentiment was echoed by other councillors during the question and answer session. Councillor Motamma Horatius commended BOTEPCO for focusing on teacher professionalism, recognising its potential to enhance the education sector, improve learner outcomes, and contribute to human capital development in Botswana. For his part, Councillor Lotty Manyepetsa applauded the Registrar and his team for involving councilors.
He also encouraged collaboration with teacher unions, relevant stakeholders, and the Ministry of Education and Skills Development to transform the teaching profession. Another councillor, Oarabile Motlaleng appreciated the update and enquired about preliminary tests for teacher registration, to which BOTEPCO indicated ongoing engagement on the matter with updates to follow.
Gaborone District Commissioner, Dintle Setlhotlhe, encouraged BOTEPCO to ensure the teaching fraternity's active involvement in developing teaching standards and a code of ethics to elevate the sector. BOTEPCO is a newly established Body Corporate tasked with professionalising teaching by maintaining professional and ethical standards, registering and licensing teachers, and advocating for the teaching profession, amongst other responsibilities.