Unemployed teachers demand overhaul of interview processes
‘We are so tired’
A group of unemployed teachers claimed on Monday that, in some cases, success in interviews for teaching posts depends not on qualifications but on nepotism and bribery.
A group of frustrated and unemployed teachers staged a peaceful protest in Windhoek yesterday, calling for a one-on-one meeting with education ministry officials.
Among their demands, the unemployed teachers say interviews for teaching posts should be abolished, as they have allegedly become a mere formality and are plagued, according to the protesters, by corruption.
Mariana Kambonde, chairperson of the Oshana Unemployed Teachers' Association of Namibia and a representative of the protesters, claimed that personal connections are valued more highly and prioritised over qualifications.
"A lot of corruption is going on. Connection speaks louder than qualifications in Namibia now,” she claimed.
Kambonde highlighted the financial burden that unemployed teachers face when applying for teaching posts.
“We are so tired of attending interviews that are not materialising. We are wasting our money every day of our lives. The copies, guys, are draining us. We are so tired. We can’t take this any longer," Kambonde said.
"Our parents are also tired. They are the ones helping us with interview money. You have to have money for copies, money for courier, money for attending interviews.”
Bribery accusations
She further claimed that school principals and panel members have allegedly demanded bribes from applicants.
“There are school principals and the panellists – they are employing people that are paying them. People are paying N$30 000, N$40 000, and even N$50 000," Kambonde claimed.
"We want the ministry to answer us now. We are not going to leave the premises until the minister of education comes to engage us.”
The education ministry did not respond to the petition by the time of going to print, but the group vowed to remain at the premises until their demands are met.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s Labour Force Survey released earlier this year, only 20.2% of graduates in Namibia are currently employed.
Among their demands, the unemployed teachers say interviews for teaching posts should be abolished, as they have allegedly become a mere formality and are plagued, according to the protesters, by corruption.
Mariana Kambonde, chairperson of the Oshana Unemployed Teachers' Association of Namibia and a representative of the protesters, claimed that personal connections are valued more highly and prioritised over qualifications.
"A lot of corruption is going on. Connection speaks louder than qualifications in Namibia now,” she claimed.
Kambonde highlighted the financial burden that unemployed teachers face when applying for teaching posts.
“We are so tired of attending interviews that are not materialising. We are wasting our money every day of our lives. The copies, guys, are draining us. We are so tired. We can’t take this any longer," Kambonde said.
"Our parents are also tired. They are the ones helping us with interview money. You have to have money for copies, money for courier, money for attending interviews.”
Bribery accusations
She further claimed that school principals and panel members have allegedly demanded bribes from applicants.
“There are school principals and the panellists – they are employing people that are paying them. People are paying N$30 000, N$40 000, and even N$50 000," Kambonde claimed.
"We want the ministry to answer us now. We are not going to leave the premises until the minister of education comes to engage us.”
The education ministry did not respond to the petition by the time of going to print, but the group vowed to remain at the premises until their demands are met.
According to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s Labour Force Survey released earlier this year, only 20.2% of graduates in Namibia are currently employed.
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