BTU triumphs in upgrade of principal education offers

Baboki Kayawe | Friday October 2, 2015 13:52

The implementation of Levels of Operation in 2013, meant to harmonise payment structures within the fraternity is reported to have created a situation where the officers were remunerated lowly compared to headmasters who are their juniors. 

Principal Education Officers (PEO) are former school heads.

BTU president Johannes Tshukudu told journalists at a media briefing this week that the scheme, which stretched the progression of school heads to E2 for Colleges of Education and Technical Colleges, D1 and D2 for secondary and primary school respectively, created animosity and rendered PEOII useless, and their jobs suffered.

He added that these were part of the inspectorate teams that organised and administered in-service training and since 2013 that has not been the case, which might have compromised teaching and learning.

“Their absence on the group created a gap because intensive inspectorate was no longer carried out.

With their experience in the sector they added value and we hope their adjustment will give teaching and learning value,” Tshukudu said.

BTU administrative secretary, Simon Mapolelo added that the officers have been reduced to an  unimportant organ, they have just been idle after the implementation of Levels of Operation some were frustrated and demotivated since having school heads above them was in essence a demotion.

“More than 20 officers have resigned, but were never replaced, which demonstrates that their role is not taken seriously,” Mapolelo said.

Primary school senior teachers have also been hard done by the policy unlike their counterparts in secondary schools. Therefore, the Levels of Operation is seen as “a fertile ground for demotivation for one of the largest layers of teachers”.

The unionists therefore see the PEOII as a good precedence for the senior teachers’ matter.