More than 5,000 teachers across Botswana are still waiting to receive their leave concession payments, the Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Nono Kgafela-Mokoka, told Parliament this week.

Responding to a question from Kgatleng Central MP Mpho Morolong, the minister revealed that 5,191 out of the country’s 32,267 teachers are owed a total of P5,965,046.54 in outstanding leave concession benefits.

Kgafela-Mokoka attributed the backlog to budgetary constraints, saying the ministry’s approved funding ceilings are insufficient to cover all operational needs, including staff entitlements. “The Ministry is faced with a challenge of inadequate funding as a result of approved budgetary ceilings, which are insufficient to cover all the Ministry needs,” she said.

To address the shortfall, the ministry has been reprioritizing its existing budget by shelving certain planned activities to free up funds for payments. Kgafela-Mokoka added that the ministry intends to approach the Ministry of Finance for a supplementary budget in November 2025 to help clear the outstanding amounts.

The revelation comes amid broader fiscal pressures on government departments, with several ministries reporting similar payment delays to employees and service providers in recent months.