news

July 19, 2018

3 min read

Teachers vow to down tools

Teachers vow to down tools

Metro Audio Articles

Catch our weekly audio news daily only on Metro Radio Podcast News.

listen now

POLOKO MOKHELE   MASERU (TMGLive) – Members of three teachers’ associations will not report for duty for a month, as from August 2 when schools resume from the winter holidays until September 2. This was revealed on Monday by the association’s representatives during a press briefing at Lesotho High School. The Lesotho Association of Teachers (LAT), Lesotho Schools Principals Association (LESPA) and Lesotho Teachers’ Trade Union (LTTU) said they had reached this conclusion after their grievances had not been given the urgency and seriousness they deserve by the government. Prime Minister Dr.Thomas Thabane has also been notified through a letter dated July 13, 2018, seen by this publication. In March this year, thousands of disgruntled teachers petitioned the Minister of Education and Training, Professor Ntoi Rapapa, calling on the government to address their grievances which include sacking Teaching Service Commission CEO, ‘Maselloane Sehlabi. In May again, the teachers petitioned Dr. Thabane after they said their talks with Prof Rapapa failed to reach the desired outcome. Some of the grievances include teachers not receiving their payslips, pension benefits certificates and prints, demand for payment of gratuities for performance-based contracts, salary arrears, acting allowances and full implementation of the salary and career structure of 2009. The LAT President Mr. Letsatsi Ntsibolane said the response they had received from the Prime Minister “was just a copy and paste from the letter we had first received as a response from Prof Rapapa”. Ntsibolane further mentioned that time for negotiations with the government had now reached an end since they have been “patient” for too long, and their talks with the Government Secretary Moahloli Mphaka, who was ordered by Dr. Thabane to address their grievances, were not satisfactory. Through their letter to Dr. Thabane, the associations said: “we wish to inform your good office that despite your instruction in the previous meeting with you that the Government Secretary speedily provides an audience to and address our grievances, sadly the instruction is in vain as the Government Secretary and his team have not given this matter the urgency and seriousness it deserves. “On the foregoing grounds, we wish to inform your good office that subsequent to all dialogue avenues we exploited with all patience on earth, we have no other alternative but not to report for work countrywide from August 2 to September 2 until the government has addressed our grievances,” reads the letter. The teachers also pointed out that “this time frame is subject to extension depending on the positive and cogent response of government on this matter”. The President of LESPA, Teboho Mokhomo told the press briefing that, however, there are still a few days before August 2, and they will wait and see what the government will do with their letter. When asked if the strike was not politically influenced, Mr. Ntsibulane said trade unionism is not about politics. Responding to whether the strike was not a hurried decision, the Lesotho Principal Association Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tšepo Lethobane said they have given all the parties involved enough time to work on their grievances, but they have failed. At the same event, Mrs. Mapitso Molai, the Secretary of the Lesotho Teachers’ Trade Union (LTTU) said she does not believe there is anything prepared to address their grievances, adding that the total number of Principals paid under the performance contract is less than the expected number. Mrs. Moloi said, as teachers, they are also worried about the old books used by students, adding that they will not stop fighting for better education. Additional reporting from Lena  

-

Enjoy our daily newsletter from today

Access exclusive newsletters, along with previews of new media releases.

-

Share the story

METRO WEATHER FORECAST

Tailored for you

NEW COALITION GOVT  PROMISES ECONOMIC FREEDOM

ISSUE: 2222

NEW COALITION GOVT PROMISES ECONOMIC FREEDOM

Published: Oct,12