Teachers still forced to share houses

The president of Botswana Primary School Teachers Association (BOPRITA), Gagoitsiwe Malete has complained that some teachers are still forced to share houses - a state of affairs that compromises their security and health.

Detailing the challenges that teachers face daily on the occasion of the 2023 National Teachers Day Celebration in Francistown, Malete mentioned that teachers’ welfare is one aspect that is still left behind.

“It is important to further indicate that, shortage of resources in school compromises teaching and learning,” Malete said.

In response to these concerns, the Minister for State President, Kabo Morwaeng who doubles as Member of Parliament (MP) for Molepolole south reaffirmed government’s commitment to “continuously improve the quality and condition of service of the teaching profession”. He promised that government will continue to equitably allocate resources in line with its national aspirations as guided by the national vision and the development plan as guided by national vision, as well as regional and global standards of the teaching profession.

Morwaeng noted that in an effort to improve the status of the teaching profession, government will ensure that teachers have access to continuous professional development for purposes of continuously sharpening their skills and competencies to be able to deal with the ever-changing needs of the country.

He added that while improving the quality and relevance of the teaching profession, government continues to rely on the 1996 International Labour Organisation (ILO) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) recommendations concerning the status of teachers, as a benchmark for the rights and responsibilities of the teaching profession.

“As such, we will continue to reflect on the support teachers need to fully discharge their duties at the same time, addressing all the obstacles they face in the process.'

In his welcome remarks earlier, the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe who is also MP for Tati west constituency, said government want teachers to continuously be encouraged to do their

best to improve their quality of education both individually and collectively.

Morwaeng pledged that Botswana government will continue to help the children to develop into the best of tomorrow’s leaders with relevant skills and competencies that can enable them to successfully compete with others at a global level. Government will also develop, equip the teachers by continuously investing in the national learning infrastructure with particular reference to increasing the use of ITC in education.

“My government has already started the process through the SmartBots and the School Connectivity and Digitalisation Initiatives,” the Minister said, further pledging that the relevance of the curriculum will continue to be improved. According to him, the curriculum-shift from being content-based to outcome-based is also on the horizon.

The Minister conceded that the critical role the teachers play in shaping the future of Botswana cannot be over-emphasised especially following the country’s experience with the COVID-19 pandemic and how it affected the education system not only in Botswana but across the world.

“We learnt from the COVID-19 crisis that it is impossible to achieve our aspiration of becoming a knowledge-based economy without you teachers,” the Minister stated.