03 Apr 2019

Ministry of Basic Education is not able to absorb all temporary teachers into permanent positions as some temporary teachers are covering for substantive teachers who may be on leave.

This was said by Assistant Minister of Basic Education, Mr Thato Kwerepe when responding to a parliamentary question. Mr Kwerepe said that applied when a teacher was on leave due to extended sick leave, study leave, maternity leave or unpaid leave.

He explained that the number of teaching vacancies currently stood at 423 of which 368 have been appointed for and were awaiting assumption of duty. Mr Kwerepe said the remaining 55 were recently vacated in March 2019, adding that appointment letters were continuously being issued to fill those remaining 55 vacancies.

Member of Parliament for Francistown West, Mr Ignatius Moswaane had asked the minister to state whether the ministry could not consider hiring all temporary teachers on a permanent basis.

Mr Moswaane further wanted to know the number of teaching vacancies and how many had been filled and the reasons for not filling vacancies.Ends