Teachers must comply or face jail time

Botswana Teaching Professionals Council (BOTEPCO) that is set up to professionalise the teaching profession in Botswana is commencing operations soon.According to the BOTEPCO Registrar Dr. Raphael Dingalo, the BOTEPCO Act states that the council is set up to regulate the teaching profession, advocate for the teaching profession, maintain a registrar of teachers, determine the criteria and procedure for registration among other issues that deal with the ethics of teaching locally.Furthermore, the BOTEPCO Act states that a teacher will not be allowed to teach in Botswana unless they are registered with them and has been issued a teaching license.Dr Dingalo said a person who practices teaching without a teaching license commits an offence and is liable to a fine no exceeding P5 000 or a term not exceeding three-months imprisonment.Moreover, an employer who hires a teacher with no teaching license commits an offence and is laible to a fine not exceeding P15 000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or to both.Vice Chairperson of the BOTEPCO Board Mogomotsi Motshegwa said that teacher trade unions are concerned about the teaching profession that has been characterised by a lack of a unique and specialised body of knowledge and skill, declining respect and trust of the public and the lack of educational standards required for entry and acceptable standard of professional competence.Motshegwa said that BOTEPCO enables teachers and their organisations to participate in defining and maintaining professional standards, as well as enable them to establish a code of ethics for morally upright and fit to teach individuals.He said that the council will aid in providing guidance for a morally upright teaching profession, as well as help put in place a national comprehensive teacher education and continuous professional development system for teachers.Speaking to Botswana Guardian Dr Dignalo explained that they will regulate everyone involved in the teaching profession, including tutors and those that home school children. He explained that in professionalising the teaching profession, they intend to find a way to be able to monitor all those that offer teaching services to people. According to him, if an applicant does not meet the set standards they will not be allowed to teach.

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Teachers must comply or face jail time