02 Jul 2026

Assistant Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Mr Justin Hunyepa, says improving teachers’ welfare is essential to achieving excellence in the education sector, warning that neglecting educators could lead to failure in the country’s education system.

Mr Hunyepa made the remarks in Molepolole on Saturday during a meeting organised for teachers by Molepolole North Constituency office, following concerns that were raised during their previous engagements with area Member of Parliament, Mr Arafat Khan.

However, the meeting was not successful, as the targeted group failed to turn up. The invitation was honoured by   teachers’ unions’ representative and officials from the regional education office.

Despite the poor turnout, Mr Hunyepa said he remained committed to engaging teachers and was prepared to return for another meeting at a more suitable time.

“I am ready to come back and engage with teachers. I am a teacher by profession and a trade unionist, and I want to discuss your rights because I have realised that many teachers are not fully aware of them,” he said.

Mr Hunyepa said teachers needed a better understanding of both domestic and international labour laws, including conventions of the International Labour Organization (ILO). 

He encouraged educators to familiarise themselves with labour legislation to better understand their rights and responsibilities.

Mr Hunyepa also commended teachers for their dedication despite challenging work environment and living conditions.

“We know that for years, your working and living conditions have been difficult. I wanted to address these concerns and appreciate the services you have rendered over the years,” he said.

Mr Hunyepa urged teachers to continue providing quality education while remaining informed about their rights and ensuring that they exercised them responsibly and patriotically.

He acknowledged several challenges facing teachers, including limited opportunities for promotion, inadequate access to further studies, poor staff housing and deteriorating school infrastructure.

“We are aware of dilapidated staff houses, collapsing classroom ceilings, broken doors and windows, overflowing drains and the financial pressures many teachers face, yet we still expect them to deliver quality education,” he said.

Mr Hunyepa further noted that teachers also contended with behavioural problems among some learners, including alcohol and substance abuse, and said these issues required collective solutions.

He encouraged teachers to attend the next meeting so that they could openly discuss their concerns and contribute ideas for improving the education sector.

For his part, Mr Khan attributed the poor attendance of the meeting to scheduling it on a weekend and said consultations would be undertaken with teachers’ unions, the District Commissioner’s office and other stakeholders to identify a more suitable date.

“We wanted teachers to meet Mr Hunyepa because during our consultations, many specifically requested an opportunity to engage with him face-to-face, believing that he understands their challenges better than anyone else,” he said. ENDS