The president of EI affiliate Botswana Teachers' Union (BTU), Japhta Radibe, has called on the government to cease discrimination within the teaching profession.
Radibe called on the government to ensure equality among teachers irrespective of the level at which they are educated. He pointed out that discriminating people in the same industry is a violation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention that Botswana is a signatory to. He said it was time the government stopped differentiating between teachers who educate primary school children, those with diplomas and degree holders. "All of them are professionals with different specialities," he said. Radibe also condemned the government for the re-introduction of school fees. "We have told [the government] to put their house in order. Education and health are two important amenities that we cannot do cost-recovery with," he said. He suggested that the government should instead cut on its lavish budget spent on top officials. He said the fact that the economy is not doing well indicates that the people do not have the economic muscle to do certain things. Kwante called on the president to admit that the country is not yet ready for the fees re-introduction.