Africa-Press – Botswana. Education remains a cornerstone of comprehensive societal development, according to Minister for State President, Mr Moeti Mohwasa.
The minister who spoke at the official opening of the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) 7th Congress of Delegates on July 23 said government was committed to establishing an education system that ensured no learner was left behind.
Mr Mohwasa also said creating an environment conducive to both professional and personal growth for teachers was of paramount importance.
“Education is not a privilege for the few but a fundamental human right for all. Our commitment is to build an inclusive system that fosters positive learning outcomes and promotes social justice,” Mr Mohwasa said.
The Minister acknowledged longstanding challenges within the sector, including overcrowded classrooms, delayed infrastructure projects, shortages of learning materials, limited access to early childhood education, and unresolved issues related to teacher welfare. He assured delegates that the government is actively working to reverse these trends.
As part of this effort, government has initiated a nationwide audit of the education system to inform budget realignment and prioritise resource allocation effectively.
Additionally, it is reviewing the education financing model to translate increased budgets into tangible improvements in learning outcomes.
Mr Mohwasa said government was engaging in discussions with international partners to expand the fiscal space for education, while strengthening mechanisms to fight inefficiencies, corruption, and wastage.
“The fact of the matter is that the economy is not doing well and as such we should jealously safeguard our resources,” he said.
He further said that financing education must go hand in hand with valuing teachers and quality teaching depended on the well-being, motivation, and professional development of teachers.
In this regard, he said, government commit to reviewing the current schemes of service for teachers, fast-tracking the resuscitation of the Public Service Bargaining Council, ensuring timely promotions and professional development opportunities, developing regulations for teachers under the current review of the Public Service Act and engaging trade unions meaningfully on all matters affecting educators.
Mr Mohwasa said government valued teachers as partners in development and constructive criticism would be welcomed.
BTU president Mr Gotlamang Oitsile said they opposed privatisation of education because it would open the floodgates of inequalities in society.
He said education was an investment, not an expense and to compete globally, they must invest locally, in schools, teachers, and children.
He said he was responding to the sentiments expressed by high-some officials that government might consider privatising public education. He said BTU joined the global wave of action under Education International’s campaign: GO PUBLIC! FUND EDUCATION,” launched in early 2024.
This bold initiative demands full public funding for education systems to ensure inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education for all, he said.
He said it mobilised resistance against budget cuts, austerity measures, and the creeping privatisation of education that threatened the right to learn. The congress was held under the theme: Finance Public Education: Advancing Equity, Access and Quality.
Source: dailynews
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