03 Dec 2024

Teachers have been urged to register and obtain licences through  Botswana Teachers Education and Professional Council (BOTEPCO) to access international job opportunities.

Addressing Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) delegates in Francistown Saturday, BOTEPCO registrar, Dr Raphael Dingalo said a surplus of qualified teachers in Botswana were currently facing unemployment.

He said registration and licensing of teachers verified that teachers had met specific qualifications, including academic knowledge and pedagogical skills to be issued with a teaching license.

He said the licence provided teachers with a permission to teach, therefore opening opportunities for them to compete in the job market globally.

Dr Dingalo said international markets could only absorb local teachers if they underwent BOTEPCO registration and licensing.

Dr Dingalo said government established BOTEPCO to professionalise the education sector, adding that the council had developed teaching standards and a code of ethics aligned with international best practices.

He said registration and licensing could be revoked for non-compliance with these standards.

Dr Dingalo therefore emphasised the crucial role of teachers as builders of future leaders.

He explained that Botswana possessed the potential to become a significant exporter of teachers to the international market, citing the country’s surplus of trained, unemployed teachers.

The president the BTU, Mr Gotamang Oitsile revealed a disturbing trend of amorous relationships between teachers and students.

He reported that the problem had escalated to involve female teachers now having relationships with male students.

Mr Oitsile explained that such relationships were unacceptable and that teachers must prioritise honesty, professionalism and a commitment to ethical conduct.

BTU industrial Relations Officer, Mr Edward Moreti stressed the importance of teachers being truthful with their employer and maintaining a high standard of professionalism.

He cautioned against compromising honesty, and urged staff to act with integrity, avoiding any actions that could be considered defrauding the system.

Mr Moreti also stressed the importance of foresight, urging teachers to be “visionary” and anticipate future challenges.

He further highlighted the impact of teacher conduct on the school’s public image, emphasising the need for appropriate professional appearance and explicitly prohibiting any amorous relationships with students.

Mr Moreti underscored that such relationships were unacceptable and strictly forbidden within the education sector.

The main objective of the forum, organised by the BTU Francistown Regional committee focused on professionalism, work ethics, and financial regulations within the teaching profession.

The forum highlighted the importance of transparent communication from union leadership to members regarding union operations and government policies, urging union stewards to actively disseminate information.

It was reported that three teachers from the Francistown region have been incarcerated for civil imprisonment for debts since the beginning of this year.

To this end, the forum called for school-based workshops to address financial literacy and responsible borrowing practices.

Union members were also informed that monthly membership subscriptions are not savings accounts but funds used to operate the union, therefore members were not entitled to a share of these funds. Ends