08 Nov 2017

A representative from Ghanzi North constituency office, Mr Jesus Mosokwe has challenged Botswana Teachers’ Union (BTU)  to fast track the inclusion of the BTU gender policy.

Mr Mosokwe was speaking on behalf of the constituency Member of Parliament, Mr Noah Salakae during BTU’s 80th anniversary themed: BTU 80 years of achievement, challenges and vision beyond 100 years of advocacy and protection on November 4.

He said BTU as the oldest teachers’ welfare union in the country, has inherent diversity of membership that has equal access to human rights and opportunities.

Mr Mosokwe called on the BTU gender and human rights secretariat to fast track the inclusion of the BTU gender policy.

He said it would be the standard guiding tool to address issues pertaining to gender and human rights.

He regretted that discrimination against people living with disability in the teaching fraternity had been tolerated for long, adding that the status quo must not prevail.

“If gender equality and human rights has not been attained in the past 80 years we can, therefore, not want to see the status quo on this challenge beyond 100 years, and we must start the processes of equity with immediate effect.”

Mr Mosokwe is of the view that discrimination of any sort has no place in Botswana.

“We must encourage peace, love and unity.”

The gender and human rights policy, he said, must able the union to align itself with local, regional and international protocols in addressing gender and human rights issues.

Mr Mosokwe described health and safety in the workplace as an important factor which must be incorporated in the management of any organisation.

He said the deteriorating state of some school such as Ghanzi Senior Secondary School posed danger to teachers citing failing ceiling, saying teachers were susceptible to fiber glass.

He also regretted that there were no first aid kits in schools.

Mr Mosokwe branded BTU as one of the well-established workers’ unions, as it has established fraternal relations with international organisations such as educational international, Southern Africa Teachers Organisation, Norwegian Union of Teachers, Canadian Teachers Federation and All Africa Teachers’ Organisation.

He also noted that BTU has a business wing, More Power Investment, a holding company for BTU which offers loan schemes to members at affordable rates and provides other services to members. ENDS