Teachers perturbed by sporting directive

Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Wednesday March 5, 2014 09:51

 

“These low results have forced His Excellency to dispatch all of his cabinet and all permanent secretaries to audit schools in an endeavour to diagnose the issues that resulted in the dwindling performance,” stated a concerned teacher.

MoESD issued the directive to all central region schools last Friday instructing teachers to stage athletic competitions.

The order specifies that sporting activities be carried out twice in a school week.  Chief Education Officer - Sub region Alijah Mothabi, issued the savigram.

The decision was taken following most teachers across the country refusing to accede to a predetermined modality of remuneration for rendered services after normal hours and during rest days.

While the employer wanted to impose a remuneration model of giving teachers 50% of the total overtime as days off and the remaining 50% as monetary form, teachers instead demanded 100% monetary payment.

Ministry officials have indicated that there is no money to remunerate teachers for overtime.  As a result they have opted to forgo teaching and learning in favour of sporting activities.

The Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) Secretary General Tabokani Rari said overtime is not forced in accordance with the available labour statutory provisions.

Rari said: “It only becomes compulsory when an employee’s contract has a provision that requires an employee to work overtime when called up onto do so. Overtime is a subject of negotiation between a supervisee and the supervisor.” 

”For instance, Employee A might agree with his supervisor to be remunerated on a 75% monetary pay and 25% days off while Employee B might agree with his or her supervisor on a 100% monetary remuneration,” he said.

Rari said BOSETU’s position on the issue gives teachers a golden opportunity to assert themselves for improved conditions of service in their profession, especially on the hours of work issue.