Government Teaching Jobs in Botswana: How to Apply (2026)

To get a government teaching job in Botswana, register your credentials on the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education's entry-level (unemployed graduates) database, put your name down for temporary posts at your regional operations office, and get registered and licensed with the Botswana Teaching Professionals Council (BOTEPCO) on its online TRLS portal. Permanent and pensionable posts are filled from the Ministry's database according to qualification and vacancy availability, so registering early and keeping your documents current matters more than chasing adverts.

This guide explains each route, the documents you need, what temporary teachers are paid, and how to avoid recruitment scams. Facts were checked against official Government of Botswana, Parliament and BOPA sources on 21 October 2026.

Who can apply for a government teaching post?

The Ministry's own service guidelines say permanent and pensionable teaching posts are open to unemployed teacher graduates who are citizens of Botswana and hold a relevant teaching qualification. In practice that means one of the following:

A diploma or degree in primary education
A diploma or degree in secondary education
A diploma or degree in early childhood education
A bachelor's degree in a teaching subject plus a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

Non-citizens are not covered by the entry-level database. They can still teach in private schools with a Teaching Permit (see below).

Route 1: Register on the Ministry's entry-level teacher database

This is the main gateway to a permanent government teaching job. Graduates are not hired from a single annual advert; instead the Ministry keeps a database of unemployed teacher graduates and places people from it when posts become available.

Documents to bring

Certified copy of your academic certificate
Certified copy of your academic transcript
Certified copy of your national identity card (Omang)

How to register

Make certified copies of your certificate, transcript and Omang.
Go to the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education headquarters in Gaborone on a Tuesday or Thursday.
Go to Office 47, Ground Floor, and submit your documents to register your credentials.
Keep a note of the date you registered and any reference you are given.

The government guideline lists the service as immediate and does not mention a fee. Because the page carries no date, phone the Ministry before travelling to confirm the office and days are unchanged.

Route 2: Temporary teaching posts through regional offices

Many new teachers start on temporary contracts while waiting for a permanent post. Regional operations offices of the Ministry issue vacancy circulars inviting qualified Batswana graduate teachers to register for temporary posts, typically lasting 3 to 12 months. For example, the Kweneng Region's circular for the 2027 school year (closing date 11 September 2026) asked graduates to register in person, and kept the resulting database for 12 months.

What this means for you:

Watch for circulars from the regional office where you want to work; the Kweneng 2027 circular was issued in August.
Registration is normally done in person at the regional office, using a form the office provides.
Only graduates with a teaching qualification are accepted for teacher posts; separate circulars cover teacher aides, who need an early childhood education certificate.
If a deadline has passed, ask the regional office when the next intake opens rather than relying on reposted adverts.

How much do temporary teachers earn?

Temporary teaching posts are pegged on the public service C4 and C3 grades. In a March 2025 report on temporary boarding assistants, BOPA put entry pay on C4 (diploma holders) at P9,037 a month and on C3 at P10,591 a month, which matches the annual ranges quoted in 2026 regional circulars (C4: P108,444–P123,420; C3: P127,092–P150,852 a year). Your exact notch depends on your qualification and the post.

For context on pay across Botswana, see our guide to the minimum wage in Botswana for 2026.

Why permanent posts are hard to get right now

Funding, not a shortage of teachers, is the main bottleneck. In the 2026/27 Committee of Supply speech delivered to Parliament on 2 March 2026, the Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education said:

The Ministry faces a shortage of permanent posts for both teachers and teacher aides, leaving many staff on temporary contracts.
Temporary teachers were allocated P212,346,160 (1.8% of the Ministry's budget) for 2026/27.
The Ministry spends about P37 million a month on temporary teachers, so that allocation covers roughly five months.
Government's stated position is to create permanent positions for temporary teachers.

The practical takeaway: register on both the national database and your regional temporary list, and be ready to start on a contract.

Route 3: Register and get licensed with BOTEPCO

The Botswana Teaching Professionals Council (BOTEPCO) was set up under the Botswana Teaching Professionals Council Act, 2019 (Act No. 22 of 2019) to register and license teachers. Since 21 October 2025, teachers can apply online through BOTEPCO's Teacher Registration and Licensing System (TRLS).

Key points from the TRLS terms and conditions:

All fields on the online form are mandatory, and incomplete or invalid applications are rejected.
Registration or licensing fees become payable only after BOTEPCO approves your application.
You must pay within 30 calendar days of approval, or the application closes and you must reapply.
Payments are non-refundable except for duplicate or erroneous charges.
Submitting false information can lead to rejection, revocation or prosecution.

BOTEPCO's registrar has also said that international markets can only absorb Botswana teachers who have been registered and licensed by the council.

Teaching in a private school: the Teaching Permit

Anyone, citizen or non-citizen, who wants to teach at a private school in Botswana needs a Teaching Permit. Applications go to the nearest Regional Education Office, open 07:30 to 16:30 on weekdays. You will need:

Three completed Permission to Teach application forms (PVTS I), each with a current passport-size photo
A cover letter
Certified academic certificates (with translations where needed) and transcripts
A certified copy of your Omang or passport bio-data page
Two current references
Any name-change documents and your previous permit, if applicable

Processing takes about three months, so apply well before the term you want to start.

How to avoid teacher recruitment scams

The Ministry's database registration has no listed fee. Never pay anyone who promises a teaching post or a faster placement.
The only BOTEPCO fee is paid after approval through the official TRLS process, not to an individual or agent.
Check circulars with the regional office or ministry directly; social-media reposts can be outdated or altered.
Use only gov.bw and trls.gov.bw addresses, and never share your Omang details with unofficial "recruiters".

Frequently asked questions

How do I register as an unemployed teacher in Botswana?

Take certified copies of your academic certificate, transcript and Omang to Office 47, Ground Floor, at the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education headquarters in Gaborone on a Tuesday or Thursday.

Is there an online application for government teaching jobs in Botswana?

Not for the entry-level database, which is done in person. BOTEPCO registration and licensing, however, is online through the TRLS portal.

How much does a temporary teacher earn in Botswana?

Temporary posts use the C4 and C3 public service grades. Entry pay on those grades was reported by BOPA as P9,037 a month (C4) and P10,591 a month (C3).

Do I need a BOTEPCO licence to teach?

BOTEPCO registers and licenses teachers under the 2019 Act, and the Minister told Parliament in 2026 that the council has prioritised registration and licensing since its regulations were gazetted. Registering early avoids delays when you are offered a post.

Can foreigners teach in Botswana?

Non-citizens are not eligible for the government entry-level database but can teach in private schools with a Teaching Permit from a Regional Education Office.

Next steps

Register on the Ministry database, apply on TRLS, and keep an eye on regional circulars. Meanwhile, browse current teacher jobs in Botswana, government jobs in Botswana and all vacancies in Botswana on Jobsiz. Still studying or recently graduated? Read our guide to the Botswana Internship Programme.

How to Get a Government Teaching Job in Botswana (2026 Guide)