05 May 2021

Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) gender and human rights committee has been urged to rally behind the union leadership in order to take the movement to greater heights.

Union publicity secretary, Mr Zweli Tupane was appraising members on the presidential roadmap during a two-day meeting at Maun Lodge. 

He urged members to play their role towards the implementation of the roadmap which defined the overarching strategic objective and steps to achieve the desired outcome.

The roadmap, he said, was not only for the leadership but for all  members of BTU, including the public. He added that the roadmap aimed at improving their operations and effectiveness.

Mr Tupane shared five key pillars in the roadmap among them to restore the union culture in membership participation through training, to build a relationship of union organs for membership economic advancement. He also urged members to align their plan to the roadmap.

Through the roadmap, he noted that the union president introduced a catch phrase of advocating for better welfare of members in pursuance of quality education.

The phrase, he said, was a guide that they should bank on as their role as teachers was to impart knowledge to learners and produce desired results.

Mr Tupane challenged the committee to explore ways in pursuant of quality education, saying that if they could embrace quality education they could change the landscape of the teaching profession. 

Members were also encouraged to familiarise themselves with the Botswana Teaching Professionals Council Bill which aimed to regulate the teaching profession.

Mr Tupane emphasised the need to understand its importance because it outlined teaching standards for primary and secondary education. 

“From the gender committee perspective you can propose which standards can be brought in and contribute to quality education,” he said.

He urged members to be proactive and bring forth standards which were beneficial, adding that they should not just wait for policies but should have an input and make their voice heard.

The publicity secretary also told the gathering that the union had come up with an educational radio programme which focused on the union mandate. 

The programme, he said, was aired on Duma FM on Mondays between 8:15pm and 9pm and urged members to own the programme and bring more topics for discussion.

For her part, vice president, gender and human rights, Ms Ratanang Baleseng thanked the publicity office for a job well done, saying the office played a key role in bringing members on board.

Her committee, she said, would support the leadership towards the smooth implementation of the roadmap.

Another member of the committee, Ms Keatlaretse Jappie thanked the presidential roadmap presentation and welcomed the radio programme, saying they had long wanted to see such developments.

She said they had a lot to do and believed some of their issues would be shared through the programme. ends