21 Apr 2013

A University of Botswana academic, Dr Nkobi Pansiri, said reforms in the public service have affected the teaching profession both negatively and positively.

Contributing in a panel discussion organised by Botswana Teachers Union (BTU), Dr Pansiri said teaching is a unique profession as it bears the wealth of any nation.

He said due to some of the reforms, there has been loss of identity by teachers as they were experiencing promotion and redeployment.

Dr Pansiri said another factor that impacts on the quality of education is the fragmentation of teacher organisations which has resulted in some teachers having dual membership to the organisation.

The turn of events, he said, cannot benefit the country’s education quality in anyway.

He observed that students performance , especially at primary schools, have been showing signs of decline since 2004.

BTU treasurer, Mr Rodgers Solomon said stakeholder involvement and conditions of service affect education quality.

"The involvement of stakeholders such as unions and the community is not clearly defined in the education policy."

He mentioned other worrying factors that  include hours of work for teachers and student/teacher ratio.

“A situation where one teacher has a class of 40 students impacts on quality,” he said.

Commenting on the discussion, which was also live on Duma FM, one listener Mr Kabelo Mahupe said the quality of education was also affected by the Teaching Service Act which he said was stale.

He expressed hope that the review of the Act, which is likely to take place during the winter session of Parliament, will address the current challenges in the education system.

Mr Mahupe implored legislators to consult teachers and other relevant stakeholders so that they are better placed to contribute meaningfully to the  review debates. ENDS