Exams crisis looming

TSHIRELETSO MOTLOGELWA
Staff Writer | Tuesday September 7, 2010 00:00

Students across the primary and secondary level scheduled to take their examinations this year may have to do without examinations. This comes after the talks over rates and conditions of work collapsed between the examination authority Botswana Examination Council (BEC)and unions representing teachers, Botswana Secondary Teachers Union and Botswana Teachers Union.

This is despite the fact that in a week's time students at the senior secondary level are expected to take their final practical examinations. The two parties held a meeting yesterday at the Ministry of Education headquarters under the mediation of the ministry Permanent Secretary Ruth Maphorisa, Mmegi has learned. However, the talks collapsed after parties failed to agree.

In a statement released yesterday the BEC Executive Secretary Dr. Serara Moahi confirmed that the examination authority has abandoned negotiations with the unions. Moahi declared 'BEC wishes to inform the general public that the parties have failed to reach consensus over the nature of their proposed relationship'. Moahi argued that the interests of the unions could not be reconciled with those of the examination authority, adding that the body would recruit exam supervisors and people to mark exam papers. 'Under the circumstances, BEC will continue to contract appropriately qualified individuals in the conduct of national examinations.

Furthermore, BEC is committed to a consultative forum to facilitate management of contractual relations with examiners and to solicit input on professional aspects of examinations from examiners' reads the statement. However, Botswana Secondary Teachers Union (BOSETU) Shandukani Hlabano dismissed Moahi's statement saying BEC was not prepared to negotiate. 'They came in and told everyone that they were not prepared to go further with the negotiations.

They say they don't want to negotiate with us. So we could not stop them but to dissolve the meeting' argued Hlabano.

He said although the unions recognize that BEC is under no obligation to recognize the unions, he warned that they would in turn mobilize their members not to take up invigilation and exam marking.

'They should also understand that invigilation is not a teacher's job so teachers are under no obligation to invigilate and mark exam papers.'

He urged teachers not to accept contracts drafted by the examination body without the input of the unions.

'The BEC wants to present individual workers with unfavourable terms hoping their desperation for money would make them agree to them.'