BOSETU Conference Tackles Key Teachers' Issues
Bonte Seepi | Monday September 2, 2019 12:50
The event, which was graced by the President, Mokgweetsi Masisi started with a Pre-Conference Debate on Thursday.
This year‘s event was held under the theme, “BOSETU: A Key Player in the Creation of Better Botswana”.
In his address, during the official opening, BOSETU president, Wingston Radikolo expressed gratitude to Masisi for honoring invitation saying it was the first time in the history of BOSETU that the conference was graced by the state president.
He applauded Masisi for his gesture and commitment to the promotion of social dialogue saying many still view unions as troublemakers and crybabies who do not deserve to be listened to. He said the union has a cordial working relationship with the Minister of Basic Education (MOBE), Bagalatia Arone saying though their interactions do not yield the desired outcome, they are grateful for the dialogue.
He added that that Minister of Tertiary Education, Thapelo Olopeng is also warming up to the Union.
He said teachers find themselves in harsh working conditions, but said the issues should be reflected upon, and a way forward paved. Radikolo gave a synopsis of the situation in schools, saying between 2014 and 2016, BOSETU recorded about 416 mental and related issues in schools.
While in the years, 2017 to 2019 they recorded 237 cases ranging from stress to depression. He said the causes were among others, the social environment in the workplace, failure to address grievances on time and opting for quick disciplinary processes.
Stagnation, nepotism and favoritism, inadequate resources in schools and inadequate in-service training, were also cited as causes. Radikolo indicated that cases of bullying in schools were high therefore he said, as BOSETU they recommend that the Ministry of Education to review the pastoral policies, up skill school management to be able to handle complex human resource issues and employ psychologists in schools.
Radikolo said in-service training has collapsed, compromising teaching service delivery. BOSETU in the past two years sponsored 351 teachers to the tune of P3.8million to pursue courses of their choice.
He said from their analysis, 82 percent of the sponsored pursue courses outside education.
“This could be an indicator that they all want to exit teaching and this is very worrisome. Therefore, we challenge both the unionist and ministry to look into the issue and try to make teaching lucrative and attractive.
We need political will to dispose this, mental issues and hours of teaching, it has been too long,” he added.
He also said BOSETU believes that hours of work and its inherent challenges like overtime will be minimized by categorizing teachers at 26 days. Teachers in several schools are still housed in asbestos houses, which are not healthy.
He added that the issue of overcrowding in classroom is still prevalent, where in junior schools, a class has up to 60 students, while in senior schools the number is around 50. He said the other concerning issue is of students bullying teachers. Officially opening the conference, Masisi assured the teachers that their grievances would be addressed.
He said teachers are indeed key players in the creation of a better Botswana as per this year’s theme. He said teachers are key agents in the transformation of education
“A 21st century learner needs a teacher who can facilitate them to learn through discovery and conversant with Information and Communication Technology (ICT). I strongly believe through the use of ICT, our country will develop a stronger economy, which will lead to greater prosperity and yet greater income,” Masisi said.
He emphasized that unions and teachers are indeed key in the creation of a better Botswana.
Masisi further said issues pertaining to staff welfare, productivity at the work place and conditions of services must be addressed in a holistic and amicable manner.
He reiterated government’s continued commitment to the resuscitation of the public service bargaining council. “As Government, we hope that once the ongoing negotiations on conditions of service of public officers are being concluded, both parties will be in the meetings to finalise the draft constitution of the council as well as other related matters.”
Masisi also promised that future negotiations pertaining to the terms of employment for the public services would be done under the public bargaining council as a statutory structure.
Negotiations on conditions of service between the government and six cooperating public sector trade unions were concluded in Lobatse on August 27.
Education International vice president, Mugwena Maluleke described trade unions as the shields of the exploited.
He said collective bargaining should be a tool that can eliminate income inequalities that cause economic stagnation and must be used in protecting minimum and living wage.
BOSETU vice president, Mogomotsi Motshegwa on the other hand called the government to give the teachers’ challenges attention, saying the issues of dilapidated infrastructure, lack of resources and hours of work have long been talked about but have not yet been addressed.
He criticized the government for expecting teachers to deliver without providing a conducive environment for them to work.
He said the outcomes of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (PEMANDU) was a bitter pill to swallow for teachers.