BOSETU gives MoE daeadline to pay

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Friday April 16, 2010 00:00

Speaking at a mass rally organised by the union at the Gaborone Senior Secondary School grounds, the BOSETU President Shandukani Hlabano said teachers who were included as scarce skills cadres are still to benefit. He said they have advised the ministry to backdate the teachers' payments to 2008 when  scarce skills was first introduced in the public service.

BOSETU also called on  the MoE, through the Botswana Examinations Council,  to facilitate the payment of teachers who invigilated the 2009 external examinations by the end of April.

BOSETU has also revealed that they have given recommendations to the Education Minister to review teachers' progression so that school heads can reach the E scale. The teachers noted that they can only progress up to D1 scale in tertiary institutions, while in senior schools they go up to D2, D3 for Junior schools and D4 for primary schools. BOSETU stated that other government departments currently enjoy the E scale and others progress to F0, when they  hold the same qualifications and experience as teachers.  The unionists also revealed that they have advised the education minister to pay teachers a 30 percent professional allowance to cater for those who teach newly introduced subjects with no teachers hired specifically for them.  The subjects include computer awareness at junior schools, guidance and counselling as well as, Know about Business. 'This does not only embarrass teachers in front of the students due to inadequate knowledge but it also increases their workloads as such lessons are additional to what they would already be teaching,' BOSETU said.  

The union has however made it clear that teachers who engage in intimate relationships with their students will be punished. The union leaders revealed that they have developed a code of ethics with the issue clearly spelt out.

They stated that the numbers of teachers who are being disciplined are insignificant and their view is that other adults in the community impregnate the students. 'It is a social problem and should be addressed at that level.'