In a significant move towards the professionalization of teaching, the Botswana Teaching Professional’s Council (BOTEPCO) recently convened with the leadership of prominent Teacher Unions and Associations. The engagement, held on Friday, 11th August 2023, at the BOTEPCO premises, marked a collaborative effort to uphold and enhance professional and ethical standards, register and license teachers, and advocate for the teaching profession.
The sessions commenced with the participation of executives from the Botswana Sector of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) and the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU), both registered and recognized Teacher Unions. Mr. Mogomotsi Motshegwa, BOTEPCO Vice Chairperson and BOSETU Vice President, emphasized the pivotal role the unions played in lobbying for the establishment of BOTEPCO. He expressed satisfaction that BOSETU is represented on the Board, contributing to strategic guidance.
The latter part of the day witnessed the involvement of the Botswana Primary Teachers Association (BOPRITA), Botswana Primary Teachers Union (BOPRITU), and the Trainers and Allied Workers Union (TAWU). During this extensive engagement, Dr. Raphael Dingalo, BOTEPCO’s Founding Registrar, assured stakeholders that the council would adopt a teacher-centered approach. He announced that teachers already in the system would receive provisional licenses to ease their transition to the new arrangement.
Dr. Dingalo further shared plans for developing a high-level system architecture to streamline the registration and payment processes. The aim is to provide teachers with the convenience of registering and making payments from any location. This initiative reflects BOTEPCO's commitment to modernizing and simplifying bureaucratic processes for the teaching community.
BOTEPCO's Acting Director of Teacher Professional Services, Dr. Moses Mengwe, underscored the significance of the union leaders as critical stakeholders. He extended an invitation for their active participation in the Technical Working Group, responsible for crafting the Code of Ethics for teachers, establishing Teacher Professional Standards, and developing the Continuing Professional Development of Teachers. These initiatives are integral to the seamless execution of the registration and licensing process.
The engagement between BOTEPCO and the Teacher Unions and Associations represents a crucial step in fostering collaboration for the enhancement of the teaching profession in Botswana. As BOTEPCO takes strides towards professionalizing teaching, the involvement of union leaders ensures a holistic approach, incorporating the valuable perspectives and contributions of educators themselves. This collaborative effort sets the stage for a more streamlined, ethical, and professional teaching environment in Botswana.
