15 Mar 2013

The  Ministry of Education and Skills Development intends to combine the Teaching Aids Production Unit (TAPU) with that of Braille production and other teaching support material production currently located in Gaborone.

Answering a question in Parliament, the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development,  Mr Patrick Masimolole said the ministry had started the process of consulting employees of TAPU in January 2013 by holding meetings with TAPU staff, union representatives from Botswana Public Service Union and the National Amalgamated Union in Francistown.

Combining the two units would result in TAPU relocating to Gaborone. Thus the minister explained that in the consultation meetings, it was clearly pointed out that a soft landing was needed for each and every officer who would be affected.

Mr Masimolole said these meetings were followed up by one on one consultative meetings to clarify the situation for each individual with regards to when they would prefer to move and also their family situation with regards to their children in schools.

This was then followed by letters of intent to transfer the officers. The officers were given a period of three months from January to March 2013 to decide as to when they would prefer to be transferred, he said.

"Officers of grade A1 to B5 have been given the liberty to remain in Francistown and the department has sought posts in the North East Region where they can be absorbed," he told the House. TAPU was established in 1976 and currently employs 28 officers.

Francistown South MP, Mr Wynter Mmolotsi had asked the minister when TAPU was established in Francistown and how many people are employed in this department.

He also wanted the minister to state why the ministry was relocating the department from Francistown and how members of the staff were consulted about their transfers and whether the department considered levels of employees and other factors like family or staff and their school going children when these transfers were done. ENDS