Mohalenyane Phakela
STRIKING teachers have refused to back down despite pleas for them to go back to work tomorrow by the Ministry of Education and Training parliament’s social cluster.
The deputy Minister of Education, Mothepu Mahapa, and the Social Cluster chairperson, Fako Moshoeshoe, recently begged teachers to return to work, promising that the ministry and the parliamentary committee would work together to ensure that teachers’ grievances are speedily addressed.
Messrs Mahapa and Moshoeshoe made the commitment during a recent discussion that was hosted by the Development for Peace Education (DPE) on the paralysis in the education sector. The discussion was held in Maseru.
The purpose of the meeting was to collectively identify the challenges in the education sector and come up with recommendations to enable teachers and the government to find common ground in the efforts to end a crippling strike that has brought learning to a standstill.
Teachers have been on strike since 18 February to press the government to award them salary increments and improve their working conditions.
The strike was instigated by three teachers’ unions, namely, the Lesotho Association of Teachers (LAT), Lesotho Teachers Trade Union (LTTU) and the Lesotho School Principals Association (LeSPA). Ahead of the strike, the Teaching Service Department in the Ministry of Education fired LAT chairperson Letsatsi Ntsibolane on 30 January 2019 for allegedly neglecting his teaching duties last November and inciting teachers to go on an illegal strike.
And the sacking of Mr Ntsibolane has not gone down well with the teachers who rejected the pleas of the Education ministry and the Social Cluster, saying they would not end their latest job action unless Mr Ntsibolane was reinstated.
“How do we go back to work without comrade Ntsibolane who was fired for fighting for us as teachers,” LTTU secretary general, ‘Mapitso Molai asked.
“If he (Ntsibolane) cannot go to work then we do not have to work as well.
“We can also not go back to work without being given or trained on the new syllabus as there will be nothing to teach the children. There are no books for the learners to use. Besides, there is nothing tangible in the promises you (the ministry and the Social Cluster) are making.”
Prior to Mr Molai’s submissions, Mr Mahapa had said that while he could not give specific dates as to when the teachers’ issues would be addressed, teachers should return to work while negotiations proceed.
“I want to emphasise that we are making teachers’ issues our main priority as this problem affects us all as a nation. Our plea is for lessons to continue while we solve the issues at hand. I have been a teacher myself and I would have done the same if I was still a teacher hence we say teachers exercised their right in conducting the industrial action.
“We (the government and the teachers) are at a fighting point where one uses any weapon at his disposal. The worst thing is that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets destroyed. We do not want to fight teachers but we are ready to solve the current problems through negotiations.
“We need time to address the issues and although I cannot set deadlines I can only promise to move fast. We need each other as a nation and it is through working together that we can achieve what we want,” Mr Mahapa said.
Mr Moshoeshoe echoed similar sentiments, begging the teachers to return to work. He further said that he would personally ensure that there were tangible results within a short time.
“I can see you (teachers) are angry but we are begging you to go back to work on Monday while you give us time to solve your problems. It is very painful seeing children, who are future members of parliament of this country, not going to school.
“I promise that you will see the power of an oversight committee (social cluster) as I vow that I will ensure that your issues which do not require money are resolved immediately. I am following up your issues and I will report back to you next week,” Mr Moshoeshoe said.
The teachers’ grievances include demands for the government to pay them salary arrears on their performance-based contracts dating back to 2009.
The teachers also want the government to pay salaries that are commensurate with their academic and professional qualifications as well as weed out ghost workers from the payroll.
The government has since set up of an inter-ministerial committee to help the Minister of Education and Training, Professor Ntoi Rapapa to address the teachers’ complaints.
The committee is chaired by the Minister of Communications, Science and Technology, Thesele ‘Maseribane. Other members of the committee are Prof Rapapa; Public Service Minister, Semano Sekatle; Defence Minister, Tefo Mapesela; Minister of Energy, Tsukutlane Au, Minister of Finance, Moeketsi Majoro and the Minister of Home Affairs, Mokoto Hloaele.