Nagging issues in teaching

It lived up to its vibrancy in articulating the concerns of teachers, particularly secondary school teachers. One notable policy proposal submitted to government was parallel progression. This policy direction was supported by Tsa Badiri Consultancy and Judge De Villiers Commission which recommended that the teaching cadre, among others, should have a separate salary structure owing to its large numbers. The government appeared ready to implement the new structure but reneged in1999. This led to a strike in 2002. Other issues bedeviling teaching in Botswana include disruptive behavior by students, which has been found to be a major factor which contributes to stress, demoralisation and attrition of teachers in education.

Poor remuneration as a cause of stress is frequently expressed by teachers. Poor working conditions, among others, include working long unsociable hours, poor remuneration (Joseph, 2000). Teaching lacks a career structure that opens up more promotional opportunities (Motswakae, 1996).