BNSC engages BISA over teachers' involvement in sport

MOSAH MOKGANEDI
Correspondent | Friday December 3, 2010 00:00

 

Teachers decided against participating in schools' sports unless they were paid.

BNSC executive secretary Kitso Kemoeng said after they learnt that teachers were no longer involved in sports at schools, they wrote to both BISA and Botswana Primary School Sports Association (BOPSSA) seeking clarification on the matter. In response BISA met with BNSC on Tuesday but Kemoeng would not say what they discussed because the matter was still to be finalised. He said they have not been able to meet with BOPSSA yet. 'I am not sure if they (BOPSSA) have responded to our letter because I have been away,' Kemoeng said. 'We intend to involve other stakeholders to finalise the issue,' Kemoeng said. He said their intention is to advise teachers on what the BNSC believes will be mutually beneficial to everyone.  The teachers' decision to abandon sports activities might spell doom for the Botswana Games scheduled for next year.

Kemoeng was optimistic that a solution will be found. 'We do not want to pre-empt matters. But we do not have any reason to believe that our discussions will not bear fruit, if it does not then we shall cross the bridge when we get to it,' he said. He would not indicate when he expects the negotiations to be completed saying it would depend on the availability of other stakeholders. He added that so far affiliates have not raised any concerns regarding the unavailability of teachers at sport events.  Teachers argue that sports does not fall within their job description. Meanwhile, BISA has submitted a proposal to the Department of Sports and Recreation (DSR) and Department of Secondary Education (DSE) on how they want teachers to be remunerated for taking part in sport activities.