Govt denies owing teachers
Oarabile Mosikare | Friday April 24, 2015 16:06
The ministry spokesperson, Silas Sehularo said this week that after cross-checking their records, they found that they did not owe teachers any payments for coursework or invigilation. “Our latest records indicate that there are no outstanding fees owed to teachers for coursework and invigilation for 2014. However if there are pockets of teachers that have not been paid for 2014 invigilation and coursework, they should immediately contact the nearest regional office or submit their names even to their union representatives for the ministry to cross check with its records,” said Sehularo.
Recently, the leadership of Botswana Sectors of Educators Union (BOSETU) told the press that there are teachers who have not been paid for subjects such Home Economics, Art, Design and Technology and Agriculture and for invigilation in 2014. The union bosses were adamant that they would not perform coursework until they are paid for the work done last year. They also vowed that they would shun extra-curricular activities.
But Sehularo said as far as the ministry is concerned there has never been any instruction issued to teachers to stop extra-curricular activities and coursework. He said that 2,002 teachers have not been paid their overtime allowance. However, the ministry has P3,328 922.61 that it will pay about 800 of the 2,002 teachers by the end of this month. Sehularo explained that teachers are owed overtime allowances because the funds in the relevant vote got depleted. “This being the case, the ministry consulted the recognised teacher unions to negotiate how the problem could be addressed without compromising the learning process. In that meeting, it was agreed that teachers will be paid their dues effective 1st of April 2015 when funds become available. It was further agreed that the ministry should have cleared all the outstanding overtime payments by 30th June 2015,” he said.
Sehularo stated that the ministry communicated with all its structures in December 2014 to suspend travelling as a way of cutting on overtime expenses. This is because sporting activities are normally held on weekends and involve travelling. “The ministry has just communicated to the same structures to lift this suspension but also noting that overtime expenditure must be within established procedures,” he said.
Meanwhile, BOSETU has warned the public about a looming education crisis if the ministry does not pay teachers. But the ministry does not anticipate a crisis since it is holding talks with teachers through the unions to address grievances. “For instance in the previous meeting with the unions, the two parties were in agreement as to when teachers’ overtime arrears will be paid. Perhaps the real pending issue is of unpaid examiners fees for 2014, which was also due to inadequate funds that are paid through Botswana Examinations Council (BEC). On this particular one, both the ministry and BEC have been engaging to ensure payment is done by mid-May, as this involves over 3,500 teachers,” Sehularo explained. He said that the ministry’s leadership has just paid a courtesy call on the unions to welcome them to open talks on all issues in education to improve results.