Nghipondoka slammed for ‘teachers in politics’ remarks

Kenya Kambowe

Rundu

Education minister Anna Nghipondoka, a former teacher who gradually rose to political stardom, yesterday said she was “not ready to elaborate” why she recently partly blamed the current failure rates for grade 11 and 12 learners on teachers’ involvement in politics.Nghipondoka, who blamed educators for failing learners, was a teacher between 1982 and 1992 and a principal of Otjikoto Secondary School in 1995.

She then served as director of education for the Oshikoto Region, and thereafter Omusati.

However, during the official announcement of the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) level results at Eenhana, she did not hold back on her disappointment in teachers after fewer than 6 000 learners - out of 38 019 - managed to qualify to register at tertiary institutions.

Acknowledging that she was involved in politics during her tenure in the education sector, she said it was her performance that took her to parliament, not serving in the structures of her political party while she was a teacher.

“Where did this thing of public servants getting themselves into politics [come from]? Some of us made it into politics at an advanced age. I was always a member of the party, but I never engaged myself in running around with politics. That is why I could not even serve in structures, never.

“It was my performance that took me to parliament. Wait until your time comes,” she said.

Hypocritical

Nghipondoka’s statement has not been well received by her own Swapo Party members who are teachers and currently serve in the party’s various structures.

A Swapo leader who served in the Swapo Party Youth League (SPYL) and is a teacher by profession said the minister was being hypocritical.

“We all know she was a teacher and there are many people serving in parliament today who were teachers. If she was being honest with herself, how did they all become ministers and members of parliament without taking the political route?

“Swapo does not have a policy that takes strangers from their homes and puts them in political leadership positions.”

Meanwhile, the SPYL infuriated teachers when it called them “salary-collectors who are not fulfilling their duties” in a statement.

‘What has she done?’

Asked for her take on party members being active in politics while employed as teachers, Swapo secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa refused to comment.

“She [Nghipondoka] was speaking on behalf of her sector. You people like controversies, don’t ask me those things. Go back to the minister and ask her.”

Also reacting to Nghipondoka’s remark was Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) spokesperson Immanuel Nashinge, who told Namibian Sun the minister was trying remain relevant.

“Before she starts pointing fingers to the teachers, she must start with herself what has she done thus far? I mean, these are leaders who don’t know what teachers are going through. She must start with her comrades in Swapo who are school principals and heads of departments who are serving actively in the structures of Swapo,” he said.

All People’s Party (APP) secretary-general Vinsent Kanyetu, who described Nghipondoka as a ‘failure’, said the minister must acquaint herself with the Namibian Constitution and what it says about the rights of citizens regarding politics.

“The constitution of Namibia gives everybody the right to be involved in political activities, so the constitution does not exclude teachers. I don’t know if she knows the constitution, but what I can say is that she is confused because of the drama she brought with her confused [education] system, which has led to our kids to fail. Now she is trying to shift blame.”

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