Good times await scarce skilled teachers :: Mmegi Online

Teachers won big in a case in which the Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) was challenging government’s decision to deny scarce skills allowance to Business Studies and Accounting teachers.

Last week, Justice Godfrey Nthomiwa of the Lobatse High Court ordered that BOSETU members offering the above-mentioned subjects are entitled to scarce skills allowances as they hold the needed qualifications. After a protracted legal tussle, the matter came to an end in an amicable agreement between BOSETU and the Directorate of Public Service Management (DPSM).

“It is hereby agreed by the parties that the applicants’ members in the list attached have accounting or relevant qualifications and are actually teaching accounting and business studies and are entitled to scarce skill allowance as per Directives Ref: DP/19/72 VI (116) dated 2nd December 2015 and Directive Ref: DP/19/96 VIII (4) of 10th August 2015,” read the court order. The payment of the said allowance shall be paid to the applicants’ members effecting from April 1, 2013. Onalethata Kambai represented BOSETU while attorney Taunyane represented the DPSM. Further, the respondent has been ordered to pay the cost of the hearing.