TSM plans to increase remote area allowance

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Tuesday February 2, 2010 00:00

 

Acting director of TSM, Matlhogonolo Mokakapadi said they took the decision because they are faced with a problem of attracting teachers to work in remote areas.

He said this is despite having the RASA in place. 'Teachers are still reluctant to take up posts there (remote areas) and we have made submissions for transfer policy in terms of incentives,' he said. He added that the most affected areas are Okavango, Chobe, Satau, Gantsi and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.

He said that some teachers even turn down appointments to management positions in such areas. 'We have to crack our heads and increase the incentives for working in those areas and see if it will work for us,' he said.

Mokakapadi stated that they have sent a total of 1,450 teachers for in-service training in local and external universities.  He explained that the significant number of teachers who have gone for in-service training have created openings for the graduate teachers who were roaming the streets.  He revealed that the department has about 500 graduate teachers who are waiting to be absorbed into the system. 'We have an oversupply of teachers as the numbers of teachers, who graduate each year surpasses the number of teaching positions available in schools,' Mokakapadi said.

He explained that more teachers will be hired next year with the opening of four senior secondary schools that are under construction in Mmadinare, Nata, Mogoditshane and Shakawe.

He revealed that there is a critical shortage of physics and chemistry teachers while there is an oversupply of English, Setswana, Development Studies and Social Studies teachers. 'We will be employing them as they come in the registration queue at our offices. This will depend on the subject areas,' Mokakapadi said.