Twenty-five Temporary Full Time (TFTs) lecturers at Francistown College of Technical and Vocational Education (FCTVE) are in a bitter row with the school Principal, Badiredi Phampha, accusing him of failing to take heed of their grievances. The lecturers are further blaming the principal for being an autocrat who has turned it a habit to emotionally abuse them.
The TFT’s are lecturers employed on contract basis to help support the shortage of staff at the institution.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the lectures told the The Telegraph last week that the school head is abusive and does not take their grievances seriously.
The grievances range from shortage of accommodation, non- payment of scarce skills allowances to deserving lecturers, late payments and unclear job descriptions. Some of the lecturers are reportedly quitting their jobs due to the poor working conditions at the institution.
“On more than one occasion, the principal told us in no complex terms when we raised our concerns that we should quit our jobs if we feel unhappy at the institution. He uttered these sentiments in a manner that is demeaning and embarrassing; painting a picture that our services are not of the value we were made to believe they are. We can no longer take this anymore,” said the concerned lecturers.
The lecturers also revealed to this publication that they are forced to seek accommodation off campus despite the fact that there is enough accommodation provided by the institution.
They said that what shocks them is that non-academic staff at the institution is provided with accommodation while they are forced to squatter or hunt for their own accommodation elsewhere.
┬á“We have held several meetings with our school head to address these concerns but he always intimidates us. Accommodation is a serious concern. The late payments of our salaries impedes negatively on our wellbeing as we have to pay rentals, take care of our families and pay other bills. Instead of showing empathy, humility and remorse, the principal chooses to ridicule us. As a matter of fact the payment delays have turned our financial lives into misery and our welfare is currently under jeopardy,” added one of the lecturers.
The lectures further said that the insinuation by the school head that they should quit their jobs is demoralizing.
“Intimidation of employees is unlawful and unacceptable hence the director of the DPSM, Carter Morupisi warned against such a habit early this year calling for good working relations among workers in the public service,” they said.
The lecturers have written two letters dated 25th April 2014 to the principal and the The Telegraph is in possession of both letters.┬á One of the letters reads: “With this letter we register our grievances and seek explanation from your good office. It has become somewhat, trendy and habitual that you acting in your capacity as the principal, attack our persona time and again when we enquire on issues be-devilling us or when we seek to make meaningful contribution in meetings. These issues (which manifest in the form of accommodation, adherence to prescribed date of payments, scarce skills allowances, job descriptions) we must state, border on our welfare as employees.
Several efforts to reach the school Principal, Phampha were futile as he was said to be busy with meetings. His mobile phone also rang unanswered.  
Reached for comment on Monday, the Regional Director, Oupa Masesane said that he has not yet received copies of the letter.
“I have not received any letters or grievances from the lecturers. I still have to find out from the school head, Phampha who is currently busy with meetings,” he said
 The Secretary General of Botswana Federation of Public Sector Union (BOFEPUSU), Tobokani Rari confirmed that he received two letters from the lecturers expressing their grievances.
“We received two letters last week from the TFT lecturers at the institution outlining their grievances on salary issues, accommodation, job descriptions and their soured relationship with the school principal. We are still waiting for a response from the principal as he was given 14 days to reply both the letters. We expect him to reply on Wednesday failure of which we will take the matter further with the Regional Director,” said Rari.
