BOSETU cries foul over school sport U-turn
Kabelo Boranabi | Tuesday October 13, 2026 10:30
BOSETU president, Dr Winston Radikolo, has criticised the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education for allegedly issuing a directive inviting teachers to volunteer for school sport activities despite ongoing negotiations with teacher unions.
He was speaking at the union's 2026 Annual National Conference opening session held at Majestic Five Hotel here on Friday.
Radikolo expressed disappointment with the ministry's approach, warning that the move threatened to divide educators and undermine collective bargaining.
Radikolo revealed that discussions involving teacher unions and Assistant Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Justin Hunyepa, had shown signs of progress before the Ministry allegedly changed course.
He said the parties had met approximately two weeks before the conference and appeared to be making headway when the Ministry issued a circular inviting teachers to volunteer.
“When we asked for the negotiating table, boom, the Ministry made a U-turn and started issuing a circular directing that people should volunteer or have a show of hands,” Radikolo said.
“That cannot be allowed. We cannot divide the education system,” he warned. His remarks come amid a prolonged impasse over the return of school sport, which has stalled since 2019 following disagreements over allowances for teachers undertaking coaching and other extracurricular responsibilities.
Although the programme was officially relaunched in August 2025, its full implementation has remained elusive as government and teacher unions struggle to reach common ground over remuneration and conditions of service.
In February this year, the Ministry of Sport and Arts proposed daily payments of P625 for coaches and P200 for technical officials, but the proposal failed to secure the unions' approval.
Teacher unions have previously proposed alternative compensation models, including overtime payments, an allowance equivalent to 15% of basic salary or a fixed monthly allowance of P1,500 for teachers involved in school sport.
The latest dispute comes as efforts to revive school sport extend into the 2027 school calendar, with negotiations yet to produce a final agreement.
Radikolo maintained that BOSETU supported the return of school sport, arts and cultural activities, recognising their importance in the holistic development of learners.
However, he insisted that the revival should not come at the expense of teachers' rights, particularly regarding additional workloads, compensation and professional recognition.
“Teachers cannot be expected to absorb additional work indefinitely without proper consultation, negotiation, resources and recognition,” Radikolo said.
He accused the Ministry of weakening established consultation mechanisms and called for the urgent restoration of the education sector's structured bargaining forum.
Radikolo said the new Employment and Labour Relations Act should provide an opportunity to strengthen social dialogue rather than encourage unilateral decisions affecting educators.
“We are not running away from our national responsibilities. We are asking for a fair and lawful process,” he said.
He urged government to return to the negotiating table and reach a mutually acceptable arrangement that would protect teachers' welfare while allowing learners to benefit from the long-awaited return of school sport.