16th August 2022
Own Correspondent
The Ministry of Education and Skills Development has employed a total of three thousand and eighty six (3,086) Temporary Teachers and three hundred and fifty three (353) Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) Officers in schools across the country.
The Ministry however owes a total of BWP 4,717,770.23 in Severance Benefits for officers across the country. This comprises Kweneng 1,703,434.60, Central P154,191.41, South East P540,520.66, Southern P569,678.35, Kgalagadi P10,2142.00, North West P1,371,728.05 and North East P368,075.00. Other Regions of Chobe, Gantsi and Kgatleng are not owing Severence Benefits.
Officials have conceded that temporary teachers, unlike Permanent teachers, are to be paid on the last day of the month. The reason being to avoid a situation whereby an officer has been paid in advance for days not worked and for whatever reason fails to work those days.
“I am aware that the Employment Act states that the employee should not be paid later then the third day of the month. However, the salaries for temporary teachers are processed on the last day of every month and hence there is a delay,” said officials.
The Ministry has vowed to endeavor to process their salaries in the shortest time possible after the last day of the month to avoid inconvenience.
Ministry officials revealed that it is sourcing funds to pay Severance Benefits for temporary teachers and SHE officers. It will not pay interest on these payments in line with current Financial Procedures.
