BOSETU accuses BEC of holding country at ransom

ISAAC PINIELO
Correspondent | Thursday November 25, 2010 00:00

BOSETU president, Shandukani Hlabano said BEC's move to seek the assistance of the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) in marking the Junior Certificate Examinations (JCE) and BGCSE Examinations would be steps backwards by the exams council.

He reiterated that the intended move that the BEC wants to take would be a disgrace to the nation, as it would show that the country does not have the capacity to handle exams.

In the meantime, BOSETU, together with the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) has issued a press release calling upon all teachers to ignore calls to mark the JCE and BGCSE examinations.

The unions also commended the teachers who boycotted invigilation of the examinations stating that they did a good and commendable job. BOSETU publicity secretary, Mogomotsi Motshegwa has called on all teachers to resist all evil forces which he said are used to approach them to do the invigilation.

'We need to prove that we teach people to understand and we must stand firm on the ground over what we believe is true,' he said.

Motshegwa further indicated that utterances made on television by BEC officials have really undermined the union's capacity and intelligence as pillars of the world, noting that such must challenge how serious their profession is being treated.

'That must be put to an end as we stand in solidarity and ignore those greedy individuals who continue to trample on their human rights. Our solidarity over the BEC issue will stand as a testimony how we love and respect ourselves and will remain to be written in the history of Botswana's 'great minds of understanding,'' he said.

The publicity secretary also implored all school heads not to feel compelled to run BEC issues, noting hey will be in support of the continued abuse in as far as the struggle is concerned.

He said teachers should not permit themselves to be tempted by narrow self-interest, vain ambition and batter their labour for short-term advantage. 'We need to ask ourselves the purpose of being human beings and who will listen when we claim to speak for conscience and who will contend that words deserve to be heeded. We must stop our desperation for peanuts in disguise of money and face courageously, openly and honestly in blunt terms,' said Motshegwa.

He noted that if the teachers yield to blandishments or threats, their influence will be sadly diminished and their prestige woefully prejudiced and weakened.

He reiterated that some school heads threaten temporary teachers over the issue of further recommending them despite the court order.