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Hardap education director fired amid tribalism claims
Hardap education director fired amid tribalism claims

Hardap education director fired amid tribalism claims

Lawyers for Hardap education director Gerhard Ndafenongo argue that their client was appointed by the education ministry and that the regional council has no authority to dismiss him.
Jemima Beukes
JEMIMA BEUKES

The Hardap Regional Council chaired by Gerson Dausab, who reportedly closed the Rehoboth Teacher Resource Centre (TCR) in November 2021, has fired regional education director Gerhard Ndafenongo amid a severe teacher shortage in the region.

Ndafenongo, who believes the hostility between him and the council is tribally driven, said no reasons were shared with him to explain why he is unwelcome in the region.

On 11 January, Dausab informed Ndafenongo that the council had resolved at a special meeting held on 13 December 2021 that he must vacate his office within 24 hours.

It appears as if the motivation behind the decision was because “Ndafenongo reports directly to Sanet Steenkamp, executive director at the head office”.

Unlawful

On behalf of Ndafenongo, law firm Metcalfe and Beukes Attorneys wrote to Dausab on 17 January 2022 informing him that their client had been appointed by the education ministry and that he had no authority to remove Ndafenongo from his position as director.

“Any cases of serious grievances should be communicated to the line ministry and be dealt with in accordance with the provisions and regulations laid down in the Public Service Staff Regulations JI/II which deals with grievances and representations,” the lawyers wrote

Too tired

Dausab declined to comment yesterday, saying: “I am tired and I am resting. I won’t be able to answer your questions right now.”

He later asked for written questions to be sent to him, but had not responded by the time of going to print.

No teachers

This stand-off comes at a crucial time when schools opened for the 2022 academic year amid a shortage of teachers.

According to the latest supplementary vacancy list more than 20 Hardap schools are without subject teachers, one month after schools started, while some unqualified contract teachers have reportedly been shown the door.

“Qualified teachers are very scarce in Hardap Region, [and] there are different reasons. For example, some teachers transferred to other schools, some teachers who were recommended declined the offers, some posts were not submitted by principals in the first round that was in September 2021.

“Then there are some schools that requested re-advertisement, some posts didn’t attract qualified teachers or better candidates found, and each case has its own story as motivated by inspectors of education,” said Ndafenongo.

The ministry rejected claims that some unqualified teachers were turned away despite the teacher shortage, saying their contracts simply ended.

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Namibian Sun 2024-03-28

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Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 221.30/OZ UP +1.40% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.07% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.64/BBP UP +1.45% | Platinum US$ 907.62/OZ UP +1.42% Sport results: Weather: Katima Mulilo: 19° | 37° Rundu: 17° | 33° Eenhana: 18° | 33° Oshakati: 20° | 31° Ruacana: 19° | 33° Tsumeb: 17° | 29° Otjiwarongo: 16° | 28° Omaruru: 18° | 31° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Gobabis: 17° | 28° Henties Bay: 16° | 19° Wind speed: 24km/h, Wind direction: S, Low tide: 10:54, High tide: 04:57, Low Tide: 22:58, High tide: 17:16 Swakopmund: 15° | 17° Wind speed: 29km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:55, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:14 Walvis Bay: 16° | 22° Wind speed: 33km/h, Wind direction: SW, Low tide: 10:52, High tide: 04:54, Low Tide: 22:56, High tide: 17:13 Rehoboth: 18° | 29° Mariental: 22° | 32° Keetmanshoop: 21° | 34° Aranos: 21° | 31° Lüderitz: 15° | 29° Ariamsvlei: 23° | 34° Oranjemund: 15° | 21° Luanda: 27° | 30° Gaborone: 20° | 32° Lubumbashi: 17° | 24° Mbabane: 15° | 23° Maseru: 12° | 28° Antananarivo: 16° | 27° Lilongwe: 17° | 29° Maputo: 20° | 28° Windhoek: 17° | 28° Cape Town: 17° | 23° Durban: 21° | 25° Johannesburg: 18° | 28° Dar es Salaam: 26° | 32° Lusaka: 18° | 30° Harare: 15° | 31° Economic Indicators: Currency: GBP to NAD 23.85 | EUR to NAD 20.41 | CNY to NAD 2.62 | USD to NAD 18.93 | DZD to NAD 0.14 | AOA to NAD 0.02 | BWP to NAD 1.33 | EGP to NAD 0.39 | KES to NAD 0.14 | NGN to NAD 0.01 | ZMW to NAD 0.74 | ZWL to NAD 0.04 | BRL to NAD 3.8 | RUB to NAD 0.2 | INR to NAD 0.23 | USD to DZD 134.35 | USD to AOA 832.63 | USD to BWP 13.71 | USD to EGP 47.35 | USD to KES 130.98 | USD to NGN 1415.13 | USD to ZAR 18.93 | USD to ZMW 25.01 | USD to ZWL 321 | Stock Exchange: JSE All Share Index 74536 Up +0.85% | Namibian Stock Exchange (NSX) Overall Index 1528.69 Up +0.84% | Casablanca Stock Exchange (CSE) MASI 12986.94 Up +0.04% | Egyptian Exchange (EGX) 30 Index 27559.35 Down -2.36% | Botswana Stock Exchange (BSE) DCI Same 0 | NSX: MTC 7.75 SAME | Anirep 8.99 SAME | Capricorn Investment group 17.34 SAME | FirstRand Namibia Ltd 49 DOWN 0.50% | Letshego Holdings (Namibia) Ltd 4.1 UP 2.50% | Namibia Asset Management Ltd 0.7 SAME | Namibia Breweries Ltd 31.49 UP 0.03% | Nictus Holdings - Nam 2.22 SAME | Oryx Properties Ltd 12.1 UP 1.70% | Paratus Namibia Holdings 11.99 SAME | SBN Holdings 8.45 SAME | Trustco Group Holdings Ltd 0.48 SAME | B2Gold Corporation 47.34 DOWN 1.50% | Local Index closed 677.62 UP 0.12% | Overall Index closed 1534.6 DOWN 0.05% | Osino Resources Corp 19.47 DOWN 2.41% | Commodities: Gold US$ 2 221.30/OZ UP +1.40% | Copper US$ 3.99/lb UP +0.07% | Zinc US$ 2 455.50/T UP 0% | Brent Crude Oil US$ 87.64/BBP UP +1.45% | Platinum US$ 907.62/OZ UP +1.42%