BOSETU sues ministry over invigilation

CHANDAPIWA BAPUTAKI
Staff Writer | Wednesday October 20, 2010 00:00

 

The move comes after the ministry ignored an ultimatum from the union to withdraw the instructions forcing headmasters to ensure invigilation during examinations.

'We have since instructed our lawyers to go ahead with legal proceedings because we have not seen any retraction on their side but more letters being written by the education officers instructing teachers to invigilate,' said BOSETU deputy secretary general Tobokani Rari. Recently, the union through its lawyer, Sefelani Thapelo fired a letter to the ministry warning that it must refrain from intimidating school heads over exam invigilation.

The letter said that the ministry wants to assist the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) after teachers boycotted invigilation because of a pay dispute.

'It is not your responsibility to take sides in our client (teachers) war with BEC, in fact your conduct is totally at variance with the duty of good faith encapsulated in the collective agreement that you entered into with our client,' said Thapelo.

He added that as far as BOSETU is concerned, the instruction from the ministry is not legally enforceable and therefore a nullity.

'Should we not hear from you within five days of the date of this letter, we shall proceed with litigation without further reference to you,' the letter said.