05 Mar 2019

Parliament has learnt that 40 teachers at Letlhakane Senior Secondary School are owed overtime as from 2018.

Minister of Basic Education, Mr Bagalatia Arone, said the delay in payments arose because the ministry had no approved budget for overtime in 2018/2019 and had to source funds from other votes.

“This is not unique to the central region but has impacted all schools nationally,” said Minister Arone.

Responding to a question from the Member of Parliament for Boteti East, Mr Sethomo Lelatisitswe, the minister explained that the delay emanated from unavailability of funds for overtime in the ministry.

He explained that they had submitted a budget for funds to pay overtime in 2019/20 financial year and they intend to pay officers on time.

Mr Arone noted that currently, all overtime had been approved and in process for payment adding ‘and I expect these teachers to be paid before the end of this financial year.’

MP Lelatisitswe wanted the minister to appraise the House on the status of overtime owed to teachers at Letlhakane Senior Secondary School and to state the number of teachers owed and from which year.

He also wanted to know why it had taken long for teachers to be paid and why the ministry was struggling to pay the Central Region overtime as compared to other regions.

Further, he  wanted to know if the delay emanated from the school, region or ministry headquarters and what the minister would do to address the problem.

The legislator further wanted to be informed when those teachers would be paid. ENDS