Exam challenges as teachers boycott

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Thursday October 7, 2010 00:00

Mmegi can reveal that the Form Five Art 10-hour practical examination, which runs over four days in senior schools has been marred by controversy.

According to a teacher, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation, at St Josephs Senior Secondary School the students had to wait for more than 45 minutes before the headmaster requested the matron, chemistry laboratory assistants and Information and Technology Officers to assist in invigilating the paper.

At the same school the Home Economics Practicals, which was postponed for the second time have been slotted for Monday where it will clash with the two hour History examination Paper One.

A teacher at the Gaborone Secondary School revealed that the Home Economics teachers refused to assist in buying the cooking ingredients resulting in one Senior Teacher buying them but in short supply. The exam was called off on Monday after two sessions.

Yesterday another teacher, who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity, at Kgari Sechele Senior Secondary School in Molepolole revealed that a senior teacher and one ART teacher distributed the exam paper to the students then left them unattended. 

At Seepapitso Senior Secondary School in Kanye the students were still waiting for the invigilators five hours after the time the exam was supposed to start.

'We just heard a rumour that someone would be sent from Goodhope. The students are just there and they do not know what is happening. It is very sad,' said a teacher at the school.

Teachers have boycotted invigilating the examinations, which are to start in earnest on Monday.

They have demanded to be paid P150 per 35 students an hour, while the Botswana Examinations Council has offered P30 for the same period. BEC and the teachers represented by the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) and Botswana Secondary Teacher Union (BOSETU) could not agree on the working Memorandum of Understanding and the negotiation talks have since been abandoned.

Meanwhile the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) that started on Monday and is due to end on Friday is reportedly going on amid major challenges.

However BEC Executive Secretary Serara Moahi said that she would not speculate on what is happening in the schools.

The public relations manager, Charles Keikotlhae revealed that they are aware of problems in the schools where the headmasters revealed that they would not take part in the invigilation. 

He said the situation has been made worse by the union members and leaders who are encouraging teachers to indicate that they will invigilate but pull out at the last minute. 'BEC will make sure that the students write all their examinations according to the stipulated regulations,' he said.