FRANCISTOWN: Three Sir Seretse Khama Junior Secondary School teachers will on March 28, 2023, appear before Broadhurst Magistrate’s Court for separate charges relating to the excessive use of corporal punishment against learners.

The incidents happened in 2021. To be precise, each teacher will be slapped with a charge of ‘Cruel and inhuman treatment of a child.’

The Botswana Sectors of Educators Trade Union (BOSETU) has said the teachers were recently issued with documents by the State summoning them to appear in court.

The union said the State will be against teachers in the case. Additionally, BOSETU has indicated the names of the three teachers will be made public in court.

The matters come at a time when there is a debate as to whether teachers should administer corporal punishment on learners or not.

The Ministry of Education recently issued a statement cautioning teachers to apply corporal with a greater amount of caution. The ministry further said teachers who are found to have used excessive force will be sanctioned.

Teachers usually administer corporal punishment on behalf of the head of the school, who by law is the one supposed to be administering it. Mild corporal punishment is used as an immediate form of action to restore order in public schools.

In an interview, BOSETU secretary-general, Tobokani Rari said the union is aggrieved by the government’s decision to take the teachers to court for administering corporal punishment.

The corporal punishment was deemed to have been excessive, he said. “We are disillusioned because the teachers were doing it in good faith. They were doing it on behalf of the school, the school head, and the government.

They were trying to instill order. It is unfortunate that they did it in a manner that was deemed to be very excessive,” he told Mmegi.

BOSETU has engaged Moahi Attorneys to represent the teachers.

Rari added, “We don’t condone abuse of corporal punishment, but we are disappointed with the manner the matter has been handled.

Our thinking is that government should be the one defending the teachers not persecuting them.”

The general feeling of the union is that the three teachers are being victimised.

“They (teachers) were part of the disciplinary committee of the school.

We believe that because they were part of the committee, they had the powers to administer corporal punishment,” Rari explained.

He stated that what is frustrating the most is that other professionals such as nurses, doctors and police officers enjoy government support or the Attorney General when they are sued or taken to court for professional misconduct.

“We do not know why that veil is lifted when it is teachers who are deemed to have erred while on duty? It is discrimination of the worst order.”

As a way forward, Rari said the union’s congress in August will intensively discuss issues surrounding the use of corporal punishment in schools.

“Our deliberations will examine whether it still appropriate to continue administering corporal punishment or not, with a view of reaching a consensus,” he said.

BOSETU has always maintained that corporal punishment should be maintained in schools because it helps instill order.

On the contrary, the Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) believes there are many alternatives that can be used to maintain discipline in schools instead of caning learners.

The union has also pleaded with its members to desist from using corporal punishment.

The union has said that the move will help them avoid legal tussles with their employer in the event they are deemed to have excessively used the stick.