Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – African governments should increase funding for public education to drive economic growth and safeguard the future of the continent, a prominent Botswana educationist has said.
Botswana Teachers Union (BTU) representative Simon Molopelo said this on the side-lines of the Zimbabwe Teachers Association (ZIMTA) 40th Annual Conference held in Bulawayo recently.
This year the conference ran under the theme “Strengthening Efficiency and Effectiveness in Teaching Organisations, The Role of Constitutionalism”.
The conference brought together members of the local teaching fraternity, teacher trade union representatives drawn from regional countries including Botswana and Namibia, as well as government officials.
Molopelo said education is the cornerstone of development, calling on African leaders to move beyond rhetoric and commit resources towards the sector.
“There is no better investment a nation can make than education. It is an investment in economic development, an investment in opportunity, and an investment in our shared future,” he said.
“As we engage, we must ensure that all governments in Africa fund the public education system as a matter of urgency,” he added.
Pointing to global standards, Molopelo said at least six percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should be allocated to education, a target he said most African countries are failing to meet.
“If you claim to fund education well, then 6 percent of GDP should go towards it. The only country in Africa close to that mark is South Africa. It is our responsibility to push our governments to commit real funding—not just lip service,” he said.
Molopelo also highlighted the growing vulnerability of teachers, particularly women, to workplace injustices and gender-based violence (GBV).
“Today’s teacher is not only a professional educator but also a vulnerable member of society, increasingly exposed to injustices inside and outside the workplace. The most pressing challenge in our region is GBV, which continues to devastate our female colleagues and students. We cannot remain silent,” he said.
He called for stronger legal protections, including internal grievance structures for teachers, robust gender policies in schools and national GBV prevention programs.
“In Botswana, we have launched campaigns pushing the government to ratify ILO (International Labour Organisation) Convention C190, which addresses violence and harassment in the workplace. All African nations must take similar steps,” he said.
Molopelo further urged African educators to unite in decolonising the continent’s education systems, which he said remains heavily Eurocentric.
“We must unite to decolonise our education systems—structures that still reflect colonial ideologies. Together, we must build the Africa we want.
“Let us not just talk—let us act. Our children’s future depends on our education,” he said.
New Ziana
