EXAMS CHAOS
BEC, teacher unions clash over exam remuneration Final year exams to suffer Some teachers have not submitted student marks to BEC
Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) are heading for a possible collision course with Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) with the final examinations fast approaching.
BOSETU spokesperson Oreeditse Nyatso says BEC does not want to cooperate with them.
“We have no Memorandum of Understanding with BEC, they are refusing to meet us so that we put in writing how teachers will be compensated for coursework and moderation,” he said, adding that they suspect BEC wants to exploit teachers.
“The reason we wanted to meet is so that we agree on how teachers will be paid but it seems BEC wants to do as it pleases. How do teachers work not knowing how much they will be given for work done,” Nyatso asked, adding that they have now reached a deadlock.
They have since advised their members not to submit coursework marks.
“Yes we advised them so, some are still holding the marks, while others have submitted, obviously not all will listen to us but it will not stop us from protecting our members against exploitation,” he said.
Nyatso explained that in the past, when the Ministry of Education was handling practical work and moderation, they sat down annually to discuss how teachers will be paid.
“We talked and reached agreements, when the Ministry cried that it did not have money we listened and found a suitable solution. They gave us reasons why they will not be increasing rates and we appreciated those, not what is happening with BEC,” he said.
BEC took over the coursework from the Ministry of Education last year and because the transition happened halfway into the year, teacher unions agreed that it was feasible that their members be paid using the 2020 rates, thinking that in 2022 they would sit down with BEC and discuss a way forward.
“We have been told that BEC does not recognise teacher unions as they are not employers, we believe this is true because the year is almost winding up and there is nothing happening between us and BEC.”
Reached for comment, Botswana Teachers Union Vice President Primary Bakang Bagwasi, said they shared the same sentiments with BOSETU.
They feel it is important to allow teacher unions to negotiate better remuneration and other welfare issues emanating from BEC contracted jobs of marking, invigilation and moderation of practical subjects for their members.
BEC had not responded to a questionnaire sent to them by press time.