'Teachers are overworked'
The Teachers' Union of Namibia (TUN) has accused the government of deliberately overburdening teachers in order to save money while high-ranking officials are living in luxury.
Addressing the media yesterday, TUN president Mahongora Kavihuhua alleged that under the circumstances, unqualified male teachers are forced to teach needlework, while teachers who must stand in for maths teachers barely have grade 5 mathematics themselves.
He added that because a number of teachers have been boarded because of ill health and others have left for greener pastures, children are sitting in classrooms unattended and are not being taught.
According to him this is as a result of delays and a failure to appoint teachers who have already been interviewed for positions, as well as the government's delay in releasing the vacancy bulletin for next year.
“We demand that the bulletin be released before or during the first week of October. Failure to do that will leave the TUN and student teachers with no other option but to come up with unspecified action,” he said.
According to him, there is currently an “exodus” of teaching staff from government schools because teachers feel overworked and burnt out.
“This exodus and accompanying delay in releasing the vacancies has caused the workload on the teachers to increase and the school management covers up for government's negligence. Teachers, being responsible and national service cadres, cannot sit watching Namibian children sitting without being taught,” he said.
According to education spokesperson Absalom Absalom, the vacancy bulletin will be released shortly.
“We are working tirelessly to release the bulletin and will make an announcement this week in this regard.” Attempts to reach the minister of education, arts and culture, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, and her permanent secretary, Sanet Steenkamp were futile.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Addressing the media yesterday, TUN president Mahongora Kavihuhua alleged that under the circumstances, unqualified male teachers are forced to teach needlework, while teachers who must stand in for maths teachers barely have grade 5 mathematics themselves.
He added that because a number of teachers have been boarded because of ill health and others have left for greener pastures, children are sitting in classrooms unattended and are not being taught.
According to him this is as a result of delays and a failure to appoint teachers who have already been interviewed for positions, as well as the government's delay in releasing the vacancy bulletin for next year.
“We demand that the bulletin be released before or during the first week of October. Failure to do that will leave the TUN and student teachers with no other option but to come up with unspecified action,” he said.
According to him, there is currently an “exodus” of teaching staff from government schools because teachers feel overworked and burnt out.
“This exodus and accompanying delay in releasing the vacancies has caused the workload on the teachers to increase and the school management covers up for government's negligence. Teachers, being responsible and national service cadres, cannot sit watching Namibian children sitting without being taught,” he said.
According to education spokesperson Absalom Absalom, the vacancy bulletin will be released shortly.
“We are working tirelessly to release the bulletin and will make an announcement this week in this regard.” Attempts to reach the minister of education, arts and culture, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, and her permanent secretary, Sanet Steenkamp were futile.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article