31 Mar 2016

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Gaborone South, Mr Kagiso Molatlhegi says it was a mistake to give the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) the role of invigilating and marking external examinations.

Mr Molatlhegi stressed in Parliament on Wednesday that the role of invigilating and marking external examinations was the responsibility of teachers.

He was debating the Botswana Examinations Council Amendment Bill, which seeks to transfer the function of invigilating external examinations from BEC to teachers. 

The bill was tabled on March 29 by the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Unity Dow.

Mr Molatlhegi, who is also the deputy speaker, argued that invigilation and marking of examinations has always been done by teachers even before BEC was established. 

“It has always been the duty of teachers. 

The government made a mistake to give that role to Botswana Examinations Council and we are now trying to correct that mistake through this bill,” Mr Molatlhegi said in support of the bill, which was criticised by opposition MPs.

He said the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) should have a provision for the teachers to be paid an allowance for invigilating external examinations. 

He also agreed with the clause in the bill which seeks to give the minister powers to appoint the chief executive officer of BEC.

The MP for Boteti West, Mr Slumber Tsogwane also supported the bill, dismissing accusations by opposition MPs that the minister was using the bill to circumvent a High Court judgement which stated that the invigilation of examinations was not the function of teachers. 

He said there was nothing wrong with the government correcting things after intervention by the High Court. 

He also said teachers were not against invigilating external examinations.

Also supporting the bill, the MP for Shashe West, Mr Fidelis Molao said contrary to suggestions, the MoESD has engaged teachers unions and they do not oppose the bill. 

Mr Molao, who is also Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, said there were some minor disagreements that should not stop the bill going ahead.

However, the MP for Jwaneng-Mabutsane, Mr Shawn Nthaile opposed the bill, stating that conducting and invigilation of external examinations was the duty of BEC. 

“It is wrong for the minister to try to transfer that function to teachers while the law is clear on this,” he said. 

Mr Nthaile said allowing the bill to pass may end up with the minister abusing her powers and making teachers to invigilate examinations without being remunerated for that.

Another MP who opposed the bill was Mr Bagalatia Arone of Okavango constituency, who expressed concern about challenges affecting the education system. 

He said the problems were caused by the lack of clarity concerning the functions of a teacher under the education system. 

MP Arone advised the ministry to define the roles of teachers, adding that the scope of their work should be derived from that definition. 

He also advised the minister to further engage teachers’ unions on the issue, saying that they have raised concerns about the bill.

The MP for Gabane-Mmankgodi, Major General Pius Mokgware opposed the bill, saying the proposed amendments would be oppressive to teachers. Maj. Gen. Mokgware also accused the minister of failing to consult teachers’ unions.

He said the role of teachers was to teach and not to conduct examinations. “This is a separate job completely. 

The duty of a teacher is to teach. Afterwards, an examiner comes in to conduct examinations to test whether students were taught properly,” Maj. Gen. Mokgware said.  

He argued that teachers should be paid for invigilating examinations if they were engaged. 

He warned that forcing teachers to conduct examinations might lead to teachers unions seeking recourse from the courts of law. ENDS