Africa-Press – Botswana. The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) says the existing levels of teacher remuneration and incentives in Botswana might possibly be too unappealing to attract and retain high quality candidates in the teaching profession.
This assertion is contained in their fresh 2024 report titled: Global Report on Teachers addressing teacher shortages and transforming the profession. According to the report, inability to retain skilled educators presents enormous difficulties to educational quality and equity in the country.
“Nevertheless, in countries such as Botswana, Gambia, and Qatar, teachers initially earn only half of the GDP per capita, which can hinder the recruitment of qualified candidates, since salaries for teachers in these countries are significantly lower compared to the average income an individual might earn in the overall economy of these countries,” states part of the report.
According to the report, even though Botswana along with some other countries offer lower entry-level salaries, they offer more opportunities for career progression in the future. “Despite the lower entry-level salaries in these countries, there are better prospects for career advancement later on compared to countries like Lao PDR or Guinea, where growth opportunities for teachers provide raises that are less than two times their initial salaries,” reads part of the report.
In addition, UNESCO notes that in order to reduce attrition rates in Botswana it is essential to provide competitive starting salaries in order to attract skilled instructors. “To entice qualified teachers, it is crucial to offer them competitive starting salaries and pathways for career advancement,” states UNESCO.
The report highlights that globally, attrition rates among primary teachers almost doubled from 4.62 per cent in 2015 to 9.06 in 2022, with teachers often leaving the profession within their initial five years.
UNESCO – the specialised agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education – states that in order to develop comprehensive solutions, there is need to know the extent of this shortage and its socioeconomic effects.
The report also gives credit to Botswana for maximum attainable salaries stating that unlike Lao PDR which offers numerous increments in salary scales that are relatively level, Botswana offers fewer increments in salary scale but a notably steep rise.
Among other things, UNESCO recommends countries across the world to create “attractive career pathways with equitable access to professional development, autonomy, and purpose.” This, according to the report, will be “crucial in sustaining teachers’ motivation”.
The report which also seeks to mobilise country efforts to empower and support teachers adds that: “Teachers are central to unlocking every learner’s potential and achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 of inclusive, equitable and quality education for all.”
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