Faulty cheque printer delays teachers' salaries

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Wednesday October 12, 2011 00:00

The director of primary and secondary education in the Southern Region, Motsamai Phuthego, made this revelation to Mmegi in an interview over the matter after the newspaper was approached following complaints by temporary teachers that they were not being paid.  'We are having problems with our machine in Kanye and we have been forced to print in Jwaneng. We have just received some cheques and others will be going for print tomorrow,' said Phutego yesterday. At the moment they are issuing cheques for September.

To compound the problem the government accounting budgeting system (GABS), a system that is used to prepare cheques was not working from September 26 until October 4. 'This a system used nationwide and here in the Southern Region we were further delayed by problems with the printer,' he said. He added that there are about 320 temporary teachers in his area in the 123 primary schools and 34 secondary schools. However, he said that they are having the machine attended to and hope it will be in good condition soon.

Temporary teachers who spoke to Mmegi had complained about late payments, which they claim happens every month. A teacher told Mmegi that at times they go for two months without pay, which they say is a great inconvenience since they are hired on three months periods. However, following up on their payment is not easy as they are threatened with dismissal. 'If you complain or seem to be more inquisitive than others they threaten to sabotage you and make it impossible for you to get a permanent job in the future,' said the teacher.

The teacher said that currently about 96 percent of temporary teachers in villages like Moshupa, Kanye, Ntlhantlhe, and Jwaneng entered the second week of October without receiving their September salaries.'On September 28th less than 20 people received their cheques and the rest were told to check again on October 6th.We went there again and they told us to come again on October 14th,' he said. 'We did not even go for independence because we do not have money. Also this situation has put us in debt because we are always borrowing money just to survive,' said another teacher.The teachers say they are hoping the new director will straighten things up at the education office.