Minister demands 'botho' and discipline from teachers

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday August 16, 2010 00:00

 

The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Keletso Rakhudu, said this at a joint graduation ceremony of Colleges of Education and Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education (FCTVE) held on Friday at the University of Botswana stadium.

Rakhudu spoke at length about the need for educators to create a disciplined institutional environment as they encourage independent and creative learning.

'Not only do they provide standards for enjoyable quality education for the students, but they also encourage student commitment to inventive learning,' he said.

Speaking on the theme of 'Discipline: A Tool Towards Delivery of Quality Education,' Rakhudu said it is essential to tackle the issue as the educational fraternity of the country is in bad shape.

He said the recent outcry among parents and the general public on deteriorating discipline among students - and in some instances among teachers - is not favourable to achieving an educated nation as reflected by deteriorating student performance.

However, he cautioned that discipline should not be synonymous to student abuse but rather, it should be taken as a way of shaping responsible future leaders. He added that high levels of discipline among teachers and lecturers contribute significantly to improved quality delivery and learning outcomes.

'You are also graduating at a time when the quality of our education is facing serious challenges as reflected in the continuing decline of results at all levels of our education system,' he said.

Moreover, he emphasised that collective leadership, where students are valued as stakeholders in the self-invention process of learning, is important.

Rakhudu called for the commitment of all stakeholders in the inclusive leadership approach in which decision-making observes the principle of consultation.

'Students have to be involved more in decision making to engender collective responsibility,' he said.

Given the multi-faceted educational challenges, he urged graduating educators to employ innovative teaching and learning strategies, which could embrace inclusive education, child friendliness, good professional conduct, performance management and planning.

Meanwhile, 1,972 Primary Teacher Certificate (PTC) holders out of an estimated 2,610 PTC holders who registered in 2000 have completed their diplomas to date. Two hundred and eighty nine of the graduates completed their diplomas through Open and Distance Learning.