Africa-Press – Botswana. Education remains the central pillar of any functional society.
The Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Douglas Letsholathebe, said this when launching Botswana Teachers’ Union (BTU) new products and services in Francistown on Friday.
The launch attracted service providers such as Diagnofirm Medical Laboratories, Emergency Assist 991, Institute of Development Management (IDM), Bank Gaborone and Security Systems.
Dr Letsholathebe said the quality of education determined the quality of life.
He explained that this did not mean that those who with lesser education qualifications would be ‘fired’ as previously alleged in some quarters.
He said whilst his ministry was working on the logistics of realising this noble idea, government had acknowledged and appreciated that BTU, through its partnership with Institute of Development Management (IDM), had taken a deliberate step to improve their academic qualification.
“My ministry is elated at this development and will be willing to extend all necessary support or encouragement so that this ideal succeed as it feeds directly into the ministry’s vision,” he added.
Dr Letsholathebe further indicated that trade unions were viewed as a central component of progressive movements.
“Trade unions play an undeniably important role and they are the ones that have the greatest potential for mobilisation because of their nationwide structures,’ he added.
He said it was on this truism that government continued to invest in engagement platforms with trade unions because government strongly believed that unions provided best opportunity to achieve government’s re-set agenda.
He further indicated that trade unions used the strength of their members not only to negotiate wages, but also to enhance income security and access to a variety of services.
Dr Letsholathebe said government was bound to support partnerships as they lessened the burden on the already overburdened government resources.
He also advised BTU members to put to good use these services, especially in the areas of finance as government was gravely concerned about the high levels of indebtedness of individuals especially public servants.
“The market, unions included, is on overdrive in availing new products to the employees. The employee’s salary is at the mercy of these elements and it is time that unions prioritised the protection of the individual salaries from these elements,” he added.
BTU president, Mr Gotlamang Oitsile, said BTU was committed to the improvement and development of the education sector.
He said it was against this backdrop that BTU entered into partnership with various service providers to enhance the quality of teachers. “We want to improve the socio-economic development of our members and I also appeal to you members to put these services to good use,” said Mr Oitsile.
He explained that the new services and products added up to the already existing services.
The BTU leader explained that the partnership with these service providers was intended to boost the membership’s economic socio-economic status.
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