BLLAHWU wants BQA restructuring exercise stopped
Botswana Land Board Local Authorities and Health Workers Union (BLLAHWU) says it takes strong objection to the manner in which the current Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA) restructuring is being conducted.
BQA is currently undertaking a restructuring exercise to improve efficiency. According to BLLAHWU the law and procedure for restructuring and retrenching employees in Botswana and other countries is very clear, elaborate and transparent to all those likely to be affected.
Secretary General of the union, Ketlhalefile Motshegwa said this week that the current BQA restructuring is contrary to these established laws and procedures. He stated that whilst restructuring of institution to improve efficiency, effectiveness and productivity amongst others, is an international practice conducted from time to time, the process undertaken at BQA is worrisome.
“It is secretive, non-participatory to employees, their unions and other stakeholders. It is therefore unacceptable and BLLAHWU call on the Board of BQA and Management to stop whatever they have started and re-start it and follow the established procedure.
“Since the then Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Dr. Thapelo Matsheka made a statement in the Budget Speech of February 2021/22 about Government's intentions to reduce the number of State Owned Enterprises(SOEs)/Parastatal Organisations, on the claim that these were expensive to government, a lot has since happened within these organisations. All happenings point to the plan to retrench employees,” Motshegwa said.
He added that this happens in spite of the fact that Government has continued to establish new SOEs, new Ministries and Departments. According to Motshegwa there is so much rumblings going on in the existing SOEs that in terms of their mandates some of them like BQA are currently completely paralysed and employees and customers suffering because they are not sure whether their organisations are going to continue to exist or ended where they are.
Recent strikes at UB and BUAN are just a tip of the iceberg, which is currently stifling productivity of most SOES in Botswana today.
The union leader pointed out that BQA - established hardly ten (10) years ago in 2013 as a strategic driver of education, training and human resource development in the country - is one such SOE currently undergoing self-imposed restructuring and retrenchment intended to cut down on its establishment register from the current 155 employees to around 77.
“At the moment, according to Act No. 17 of 2013, BQA is responsible for registration, quality assurance and accreditation of qualifications and learning programmes from level 1 to level 10 (pre-school education to doctoral degree) of the country's education and training system.
“It is therefore a strategic organisation at the centre of Botswana's education and human resource development. Together with Sustained Economic Development, Sustainable Environment and Peace and Security, Social and Human Resource Development is a strategic pillar driven by BQA which is in trouble,” Motshegwa said.
He revealed that the BQA is facing a serious leadership and governance crisis, adding that the leadership does not consult employees, the Human Resources and employment policies are applied discriminately with some employees given pensionable terms whilst others are given 1 to 2-year contracts.
Efforts to get a comment from BQA were futile at press time.