The unions' president, Shandukani Hlabano said during Teachers' Day celebrations that they have been waiting for more than a decade for the government to transform the colleges.He added that technical colleges and brigades suffer arguably the worst form of neglect. "They have no clear quality curriculum yet they are critical institutions that can provide the much needed technical skills in the country," he said. He regretted that Botswana is neglecting the institutions, yet many countries have used them to transform their economies. He said an investment in the capacity of teachers to ensure professional competency is very important. He added that teachers need to work in a context based on trust because they are engaged as professionals who know their job.
He said the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) is undergoing significant transformation that needs a high level of dexterity in decision-making. Such transformation involves the dissolution of Tertiary Education Council (TEC) and Botswana Training Authority (BOTA).
Hlabano said that previous functions of these institutions will be rationalised and shared by Human Resources Development Council (HRDC) and Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA).He said the establishment of BQA means that Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) should also be transformed to include a broader national mandate on moderation and assessment of examinations. "We however applaud the fact that all matters relating to assessment and examination in the country will be the mandate of BEC," he said.
