26 Mar 2015

Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) pays P32 060 to their lecturers, but can pay a maximum of 40 per cent of the salary as supplementation.

The Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Kgotla Autlwetse, said this in response to a parliamentary question on March 25. Mr Autlwetse said on one hand, the University of Botswana (UB) paid between P16 975 and P29 164 per month to lecturers.

“The University of Botswana pays between P25 546 to P32 525 per month to senior lecturers while BIUST pays P39 695 per month and on top can pay a maximum of 40 per cent of the salary as supplementation,” he said.

He further elaborated that UB paid between P30 936 to P35 532 per month to Associate Professors while BIUST paid P49 969 and could furthermore pay up to a maximum of 40 per cent of the salary as supplementation.

Mr Autlwetse noted that UB and BIUST staff members attracted same allowances save for housing allowances. “That notwithstanding, UB through its council, is currently working on reviewing the terms and conditions for staff members and will make a submission to the ministry for determination,” he added.

He said the disparity was caused by the fact that BIUST is a newly established University and like UB when it was established, they attracted Housing Allowance but as they stabilised, the allowance and housing policy was reviewed.

With time when BIUST has stabilised, the allowance will be reviewed accordingly, he added. MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse had asked the minister how much a lecturer was paid monthly at BIUST and UB respectively and how much an Associate Professor is paid monthly.

Mr Keorapetse also wanted to know if BIUST academic staff has allowances which UB academics do not have and to account for disparity of incomes if any given that both institutions are owned by government. ENDS