06 Apr 2017

The Ministry of Basic Education has 1 298 or 3.9 per cent vacant posts and of these, 504 are for non-teaching and 794 for teaching staff.

Answering a question from Specially Elected Member of Parliament, Mr Mephato Reatile, the Minister of Basic Education, Dr Unity Dow said 91 per cent of the vacancies were in the districts while 9 per cent were in the ministry’s headquarters.

Dr Dow said 34 per cent of the vacant posts were in the central region, 12 per cent in the southern region, 10 per cent in north west, 9 per cent in Kweneng region, 6 per cent in North East, 5 per cent in Kgatleng, 4 per cent in South East and another 4 per cent in Ghanzi while Chobe has 1 per cent.

“Currently, we have 1 894 temporary employees who are engaged to close gaps when officers are on leave or where schools have expanded and there is shortage of posts,” she said. Minister Dow said there were basically no challenges in filing the vacancies except where officers decline posts.

However, she added that due to terminations of service resulting from retirements, resignations and deaths, vacancies would always exist. MP Reatile had asked the minister to state the number of vacant posts in her ministry, the total number of temporary employees engaged to acquire experience and the challenges that caused delay in filling the vacant posts. ENDS