Fund delays interrupt teaching practice

Baboki Kayawe | Thursday April 21, 2016 10:54

The prospective teachers were supposed to have commenced the exercise last Thursday, but late submission of their documents at the Department of Tertiary Education Finance (DTEF) has interrupted their schedule.

A third-year student majoring in English, Thapelo Malepe said this is a great inconvenience, as the delay would eat out of their teaching practice time.

“We understand that the teaching practice coordinator submitted the list of students going for teaching practice late hence the delay at DTEF,” he said.

Malepe added that had placement been done with the guidance of the schools of their preferred choice, the situation would not have propagated, as learners would have looked for accommodation from friends and relatives.

“We were asked to write down three schools we wanted to do our teaching practice with, unfortunately when we were given feedback on placement, none of us was assigned any of the three schools we had opted for,” Malepe said.

He said the implication on their studies is that the exercise would not achieve its desired impact as they are now having limited time. 

MCE Student Representative Council president, Bobby Nyoni said it is disappointing that the school management has not made any arrangement to extend the teaching practice. 

He said the introductory week is the most crucial one as they observe the environment as well as familiarise themselves with the learners.

“We are informed that the observation week has been cancelled.  But it is a critical component of the exercise as it enables us to study learners as well as to enable settling in well in a new environment,” said Nyoni.

He added they are being told that when the practical finally commences next Monday, it will be assessment week.  Nyoni wondered if this was possible since the trainee teachers had not gone through the observation phase.

Moreover, the disgruntled learners say the allowance is meant to take care of their rentals and necessities.  Its late crediting, they said, would lead to them looking for accommodation in haste.

They further said management has promised to inform their host schools that students would resume this practical learning exercise late.  “MCE lecturers who will be supervising us have also not received their money.

It is such an inconvenience even for some self-sponsored learners who could afford to start the exercise on time, the moderation and assessment is going to be affected by this delay,” another student said.  

Meanwhile, their Tonota College of Education counterparts started this exercise well on time. 

The Ministry of Education and Skills Development, within which colleges of education fall, had not responded to Mmegi enquires at press time.