Teachers should be tamed � Venson-Moitoi
Tsaone Basimanebotlhe | Tuesday July 5, 2016 16:06
“Even during my time when I was a minister for education, I told teachers that there is need for the government to control them. If indeed we want better education for our children, we cannot let teachers strike for months,” Moitoi said.“In countries like UK, teachers are allowed to strike only for two hours. We can allow them to strike but for a few hours. This is our country and we need to build it. Teachers are very important. Again, we should protect those who cannot speak for themselves. I support this bill and request that teachers striking period be controlled like in other countries.”
Moitoi said controlling teachers does not mean that their rights will be trampled upon.
However, MP for Gaborone North constituency Haskins Nkaigwa said government should not hurry to make decisions driven by emotions. “Other MPs who commented on this bill requested the Minister to consult with important stakeholders before it was debated in Parliament. It does not help to make laws motivated by anger, which laws are going to be reversed when assessed by others,” Nkaigwa said.
He said the bill was brought to Parliament because someone is not happy with teachers for reasons known to him.
The Gaborone North MP said the government has failed to consult the Botswana Federation of Public Sector Unions (BOFEPUSU) on the matter.
“Laws that are controlled by anger won’t take us anywhere. What kind of government is this? The results for students are going to drop drastically because those against whom we want to make these laws are going to rebel. Teachers can still sabotage the government even when they are essential,” he cautioned.
Although the Minister of Labour and Home Affairs Edwin Batshu said they consulted BOFEPUSU, Nkaigwa maintained that the minister was not telling the truth.
He said the meeting was called off because it had no agenda and the consultation never materialised.