Ministry side steps teachers’ conditions of service
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday August 11, 2025 09:59
Kelebeng said the ministry will focus on the welfare of athletes, coaches, caretaker coaches, teacher coaches, and game officials. He told MmegiSport that MoSA will confine itself to only dealing within that scope and not delve into the conditions of service of teachers. Kelebeng said the professionals may come from all walks of life, even beyond the teaching profession. 'We have identified grassroots development as a key priority area, recognising it as the foundation for long-term growth and success in both sectors. To this end, the ministry has, upon its inception in November 2024, set its sights on ensuring the return of school sport and arts as an inextricable component of grassroots development. From the onset, MoSA have always known and appreciated unions as critical stakeholders and custodians of teachers' rights. It is for this reason that we engaged them in earnest on the matter of school sport at the beginning of 2025,' he said.
Kelebeng said in their initial meeting, it was resolved that unions are to, within a reasonable time, bring forward their proposals that could enable teacher participation in a fully fledged school sport and arts programme. He explained that the unions then furnished the ministry with the proposal after four months. 'This delay by the unions caused a major disruption to our intended timeline of delivering school sport to the nation. Due to the belated response, the MoSA, along Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education, determined to bring about an interim solution whilst the negotiations remain ongoing,' he said.
Kelebeng said MoSA and their partner ministry hold the view that physical activity in schools is not a privilege but a right. He said their position is fortified by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which affirms every child's right to rest, leisure, and engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to their age. 'We could no longer wait and sit on the rights of children. Our engagement with unions remains active, with our last meeting held on August 4. Currently, the proposals by the unions are undergoing assessment by our technical teams as agreed with the unions. A technical committee on School Sport has been formed, and it has representation of the ministries of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Sport and Arts, Local Government and Traditional Affairs, and the Ministry of Health,' Kelebeng said. Regarding the launch of School Sport and Arts in Lobatse yesterday ( Thursday), Kelebeng said it is an indication that the return of a fully fledged school sport programme is possible. 'In the meantime, we will let children play within the prescribed school hours. After the technical teams' review, we are confident of a more competitive programme at the beginning of the first term of 2026,' Kelebeng said.