Physics teachers still not under 'scarce skills'

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Friday January 29, 2010 00:00

The acting director of TSM Matlhogonolo Mokakapadi said they have made numerous submissions to DPSM requesting that physics teachers be included in this list.

He revealed that the ministry was not involved in the final determination of teachers who were included in this category. 'This is because the process of identifying scarce skills professions did not include teachers in the first place and therefore we were not involved in the process of determining those who would be included,' he said.

He explained that the ministry could not have deliberately excluded physics teachers from this list since there is a shortage of such teachers. 'However DPSM has requested us to make submissions to justify our need for physics teachers to be considered for inclusion in scarce skills profession. We have made those submissions and we are waiting for a response from them,' he said.

A Teaching Service Consultative Committee meeting was held, on Wednesday, following disgruntlement by teachers' unions over this exclusion. The list of the occupations in the scarce skills list, as revealed in a savingram dated October 28, 2009 by the director of TSM Phillip Tsumake include: Chemists who are chemistry teachers and lecturers holding Bsc (Science) degrees, Post graduate diplomas, Masters and Bachelor degrees of Education in science and chemistry and chartered accountants who are commerce or accounting teachers as well as lecturers holding ACCA or CIMA.

There is also the occupation of Computer Systems by computer studies teachers/ lecturers with  degrees in computer science or information technology. It also includes Information Technology technicians who are practicing as computer studies teachers lecturers with a diploma in computer science / information technology and Special Education (Speech Therapists, sign language interpretation) who are practicing as special education teachers/lecturers with a Degree in Special Education, Masters Degree and Bachelor of Education  degree in Special Education.