I have been following closely and curiously, the recent war of words between teacher organizations and the Ministry of Education and in particular, the Botswana Examinations Council (BEC). It’s a pity the relationship between the two organizations had to reach a fok-fok stage. It is so sad that the situation has ended with the BEC waving the middle finger at the teachers. It is a shame that government, or to be brutally truthful, the Minister of Education and Skills Development, Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi failed to arrest the situation and devise an amicable solution to the impasse.
I’m always saddened by the inhospitable treatment meted out on teachers by our government. It pisses me off to see our government looking down on teachers and treating them like trash. It is glaringly clear our government doesn’t appreciate the hard work, the dedication and devotion displayed by teachers in this country. I have all reason to sympathize with teachers in their plight. I have all reason to appreciate the hard work of teachers. I am a product of teachers. I have witnessed their selflessness and their love for their profession but more importantly their love for their country. I mean, here I am, and spitting fire in English and it’s all thanks to the thankless job of teachers. Yes, I didn’t learn English at home. I learnt it from teachers at school. Mma Venson-Moitoi goes on television, speaks in English and defends the BEC and it’s all thanks to the education she acquired from teachers. The Botswana Examinations Council runs well articulated and boastful press statements in English and it’s all because the authors of those statements are the products of teachers.
Our government has made the teaching profession so unbearable and unattractive. Gone are the days when teaching brought with it some sense of pride and prestige for teachers. Gone are the days when teachers used to be the envy of the society. Back in the day our parents used to encourage us to study hard so we could become teachers. Nowadays parents warn their children against becoming teachers and it’s all because of what government has turned this noble profession into. Government doesn’t respect teachers and perhaps this explains why students no longer respect teachers.
Teachers of yesteryears were in the profession not necessarily for money but it was out of passion and patriotism. Teachers were role models. Teachers were parents. Teachers were an inspiration.
Teachers never looked at the clock to dust off the chalk and go home. Teachers were concerned when students failed. Teachers instilled self esteem into hopeless kids who came from poor families.
Teachers had to patiently mould filthy little rascals into brainy and responsible students. Teachers sat with students in class and played with them during extracurricular activities and they never received any incentives for going the extra mile. All these things teachers have been doing that for so many years with the hope that one day their services will be acknowledged or appreciated and rewarded but to no avail.
I am compelled to support teachers in their cry for better working conditions because they too cannot continue to work under harsh conditions and continue to be paid peanuts under the disguise of patriotism. Our political leaders, despite their lies that they are here because of their love to serve the nation, continue to improve and increase the remuneration that comes with their services and I don’t see why teachers should not expect better treatment from their employer. The morale in the teaching fraternity is so low it’s not even funny. It’s a pity government’s bad treatment of teachers has resulted in teachers strictly sticking to the conditions of their services. While government might not give a damn about this turn of events, those who are not blinded by egos will tell you this is going to negatively affect the students. I remember during my time at school when we used to knock at our teachers’ houses to seek clarification or explanation on our assignments and the teachers would never turn us away citing hours of work. As it stands, it is going to be difficult for students to seek educational help from the teachers outside the stipulated eight hour day service.
The impasse between teacher organizations and the Botswana Examinations Council is regrettable and had people not allowed their egos to take centre stage, things wouldn’t have turned out so ugly.
They way I see it, the BEC was all out to sabotage and take revenge against teachers just because teachers had won a court case against the Council. For the BEC to hastily recruit invigilators at the eleventh hour shows how uncommitted they are to the success of students in the ongoing examinations. It’s not like these examinations are an emergency. These examinations come every year around the same time but because BEC is used to exploiting teachers, they thought it would be business as usual. I applaud the teachers for taking a firm stand and showing BEC that enough is enough. The BEC is making a big mistake to think they can do without the teachers.
The ministry of education is being biased and taking sides with BEC without taking into account the aftermath of the clash between teachers and the BEC. I don’t understand why BEC should have difficulties working harmoniously with teachers even after losing to teachers at the high court.
I’m tempted to think the BEC leadership has taken the loss too personal and in the process became emotional. Running a department like the BEC shouldn’t really be such a complex task because even a well trained puppy can run that department. So I don’t understand why educated people should fail to discharge their duties to the full expectations of the nation and the students.
All it requires is cool heads. All it needs is people who are ready to put their egos aside and advance the needs of the learners who, after years of sweat and toil behind the books, need to sit for examinations without even a slight glitch. For as long as our government fails to recognize teachers as the pillar of this nation, we are headed for more disaster and we might as well forget about our ambitious Vision 2016 of an informed and educated nation. We need motivated and enthusiastic teachers to attain a well informed and educated nation. Surely we can do without Minister Venson-Moitoi’s sugar coated statements on Facebook and Btv.
