27 Feb 2024

Botswana Sector of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) secretary general has underscored the need for government to engage the affected trade unions before sports activities in schools could be resumed.

When apprising BOSETU members on union affairs recently, Tobokani Rari said as BOSETU,, they had made it clear that they supported the reinstatement of sports activities because they believed that when children idle, they ended up indulging in drugs, substance abuse and other juvenile delinquencies.

He said they were disturbed by a recent Savingram stating that government had requested local councils to grade school grounds in preparation for the commencement of the sporting activities while there was a pending issue on the table. 

He said they urged authorities several times to come to the table and discuss the way forward in the best interest of the country but their efforts seems to be in vain.

“Currently Botswana is basking on glory of Letsile Tebogo and Nijel Amos and nobody recognises that they were coming from the hands of teachers and we still believe that the right people to nurture talent are teachers and if the government wants to negotiate, we are ready,” he added.

He is of the view that people who were passionate about sports could not groom and develop future sports stars as compared to teachers who view sports as a powerful tool that they could use to mould the behaviour of learners as they instill discipline and life skills.

He warned that by engaging people without good qualities to coach sports activities, government would be creating a disaster and stressed the need for government to engage trade unions and finalise the issue for the benefit of the learners and the nation at large.

Government, he said should understand that grassroots development was where future stars came from.

Meanwhile, a Savingram dated February 16, 2024 from Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development was addressed to all town clerks, council secretaries and all acting town clerks and council secretaries requesting them to prepare for sporting activities by grading grounds and equally purchase the necessary sporting equipment to facilitate sporting activities in all primary schools.

The communiqué further states that the school sports are expected to commence soon. ENDS