Katrina reads riot act to 'VIP' principals
The education minister says she will not tolerate lax behaviour and troublesome teachers must “shape up or ship out”.
Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa has rebuked school principals for expecting rewards for poor performance, saying some of them act like “very important persons (VIPs)”, while refusing to meet with parents.
The minister, who met with school heads in the Khomas Region on Wednesday, said she would not tolerate lax behaviour and that troublesome teachers must “shape up or ship out”.
She also chided principals who fail to build cases that would pave the way to discipline these teachers.
“We can no longer reward teachers who produce ungraded learners. You cannot go to school to be loved. You are the leader at your school. Get rid of those troublesome teachers,” she said.
“We end up having in our system troublemakers and criminals, because you have not built cases. We cannot have you as a lifelong principal if your school is consistently in the red. We cannot allow teachers that produce ungraded learners to return as if nothing is wrong.”
According to her, schools are struggling because they are stuck with troublesome teachers who abuse the system.
She urged principals to get rid of unproductive and troublesome teachers and to hold teachers accountable at all costs.
“One wonders when some of these teachers are chosen as the top candidates in their interviews, but the school performs at 30%. Principals must not suffer in silence when there is trouble.”
The education minister also appealed to local teacher unions to talk to their “clients” so they can improve their conduct and performance, and not only demand better salaries for mediocre performance.
“The Namibia National Teachers' Union (Nantu) must come on board. Not only when we negotiate for salary increases, but let us talk about the production in classrooms.”
Hanse-Himarwa also took a swipe at pre-primary and primary school teachers for failing in their duties by delivering learners who have not mastered the basic competencies of education and who are unable to read with understanding at secondary schools.
“You send through kids that are not competent and groomed from pre-primary and primary school, to be able to understand their mission at school. When you are sending through weak children then they will struggle at the secondary level,” she said.
According to the minister absenteeism is a big challenge and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“Principals, you must make sure to keep a closer look at absenteeism. Teachers are absent but they are not sick. Deal with them, follow them closely. Nowadays, sick leave notes are fake. How many days are stolen from the Namibian child when teachers are absent?” she asked.
JEMIMA BEUKES
The minister, who met with school heads in the Khomas Region on Wednesday, said she would not tolerate lax behaviour and that troublesome teachers must “shape up or ship out”.
She also chided principals who fail to build cases that would pave the way to discipline these teachers.
“We can no longer reward teachers who produce ungraded learners. You cannot go to school to be loved. You are the leader at your school. Get rid of those troublesome teachers,” she said.
“We end up having in our system troublemakers and criminals, because you have not built cases. We cannot have you as a lifelong principal if your school is consistently in the red. We cannot allow teachers that produce ungraded learners to return as if nothing is wrong.”
According to her, schools are struggling because they are stuck with troublesome teachers who abuse the system.
She urged principals to get rid of unproductive and troublesome teachers and to hold teachers accountable at all costs.
“One wonders when some of these teachers are chosen as the top candidates in their interviews, but the school performs at 30%. Principals must not suffer in silence when there is trouble.”
The education minister also appealed to local teacher unions to talk to their “clients” so they can improve their conduct and performance, and not only demand better salaries for mediocre performance.
“The Namibia National Teachers' Union (Nantu) must come on board. Not only when we negotiate for salary increases, but let us talk about the production in classrooms.”
Hanse-Himarwa also took a swipe at pre-primary and primary school teachers for failing in their duties by delivering learners who have not mastered the basic competencies of education and who are unable to read with understanding at secondary schools.
“You send through kids that are not competent and groomed from pre-primary and primary school, to be able to understand their mission at school. When you are sending through weak children then they will struggle at the secondary level,” she said.
According to the minister absenteeism is a big challenge and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“Principals, you must make sure to keep a closer look at absenteeism. Teachers are absent but they are not sick. Deal with them, follow them closely. Nowadays, sick leave notes are fake. How many days are stolen from the Namibian child when teachers are absent?” she asked.
JEMIMA BEUKES
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