Impending teaching council to whip teachers into line
Baboki Kayawe | Wednesday June 10, 2015 15:53
The legislation, which will be deliberated in the forthcoming winter Parliament, will establish the Botswana Teaching Council (BOTECO), to regulate the teaching profession in its entirety; tackle indiscipline and ensure stakeholders uphold high standards. The Council is also expected to license teachers and end the entry of untrained people into the education sector. Expatriate teachers will also be required to produce accreditation and licensing equivalent to what BOTECO will mandate.
Speaking at the National Teachers’ Day celebrations in Molepolole, Minister of Education Unity Dow stressed the significance of introspection within the teaching fraternity.
“Have you ever wondered why teaching, in its glory days, was respected and referred to as the noble profession? Why students that we teach do not aspire to be teachers?” she asked rhetorically.
“It is important for all of us to introspect on this day, to reaffirm our commitment to children of this country and above all to restore the dignity and integrity of the teaching profession,” she added.
Botswana Primary Teachers’ Association president, Sam Malete blasted teachers who drag the good name of the profession in the mud. He cited cases in which teachers are charged with misconduct for having sexual relations with learners.
“Those unethical acts shall not be condoned and those still involved in these acts should desist from that forthwith,” he said.
“In addition severe alcoholism also exists among some teachers to an extent where performance is seriously compromised. Absenteeism is also an issue especially for those hooked on alcohol. Some absent themselves and when they resurface, will not account convincingly for their absence,” he said.
Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) publicity secretary, Solomon Batsietswe told Mmegi that BOTECO’s establishment was at an advanced stage.
He said teacher unions had been mandated to consult their members on the matter, following government’s decision to introduce the BOTECO draft bill in the upcoming session of Parliament.
“Our last consultative meeting was held last Thursday, and unions were due to submit their input to the education ministry.
“Once in place the Council will license teachers, and instances where non-trained people are absorbed into the profession will be a thing of the past,” he said.
Batsietswe further said engagement of temporary teachers from other disciplines would also end with the birth of the Council. He also said the issues of indiscipline within the teaching fraternity were quite worrisome as they hindered delivery in the classroom. Moreover, he said the lack of such a governing body had resulted in some members failing to find jobs elsewhere since licensing and accreditation are a perquisite in other jurisdictions.
The publicity secretary noted that BOTECO’s existence would mean that no expatriate teacher would be allowed in the classroom without an equivalent accreditation from his or her place of origin.