Teachers' demo on for today
A union representing teachers has organised a one-day walkout during the year-end exams to protest against cost-cutting by the ministry.
Teachers are determined to stage protests today to express their frustration with the ministry's delay in publishing the vacancy bulletin for next year.
This protest action comes at a time when grade 10 and 12 learners are writing their most crucial examinations, but the union says it is a one-day affair.
The demonstrations, described by the Teachers' Union of Namibia (TUN) as peaceful, will take place in Windhoek, Ongwediva, Oshakati, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop and Rundu from 10:00 today.
The secretary-general of TUN, Mahongora Kavihuha, yesterday confirmed that the demonstrations will take place across the country today.
“I will also be in Windhoek and union members will start arriving at 08:00 already,” he said.
The education ministry has apologised for the delay in the posting of teaching vacancies but said the temporary inconvenience was necessary in order for the ministry to comply with government orders to trim unnecessary expenditure.
Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa told a media briefing on Thursday last week that the deadline for regions to submit their staff vacancies was Thursday. The ministry then had to wait for cabinet ratification and hoped to publish it by the end of the month, she said.
She attributed the delay to a stringent auditing of staffing needs in order to cut the ministry's wage bill as much as possible.
Other cost-cutting measures included not filling vacant management positions, except for principal's posts. Department heads would be appointed only on an acting basis.
However, TUN is not having any of this, saying the vacancy bulletin is but one of the reasons they are fed up with the ministry.
“We welcome it, but it came too late,” Kavihuha said.
According to him the bone of contention is the cost-cutting measures which are “overloading and overburdening” teachers.
“And even the bulletin that the ministry plans to release by next month will not include positions for heads of departments, which is very problematic for us.”
This action comes exactly a year after teachers went on a countrywide strike demanding a salary hike of 8%, while the government offered 5%.
The government tried to halt the strike with an urgent application in the High Court but the court ruled in favour of the teachers.
JEMIMA BEUKES
This protest action comes at a time when grade 10 and 12 learners are writing their most crucial examinations, but the union says it is a one-day affair.
The demonstrations, described by the Teachers' Union of Namibia (TUN) as peaceful, will take place in Windhoek, Ongwediva, Oshakati, Katima Mulilo, Keetmanshoop and Rundu from 10:00 today.
The secretary-general of TUN, Mahongora Kavihuha, yesterday confirmed that the demonstrations will take place across the country today.
“I will also be in Windhoek and union members will start arriving at 08:00 already,” he said.
The education ministry has apologised for the delay in the posting of teaching vacancies but said the temporary inconvenience was necessary in order for the ministry to comply with government orders to trim unnecessary expenditure.
Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa told a media briefing on Thursday last week that the deadline for regions to submit their staff vacancies was Thursday. The ministry then had to wait for cabinet ratification and hoped to publish it by the end of the month, she said.
She attributed the delay to a stringent auditing of staffing needs in order to cut the ministry's wage bill as much as possible.
Other cost-cutting measures included not filling vacant management positions, except for principal's posts. Department heads would be appointed only on an acting basis.
However, TUN is not having any of this, saying the vacancy bulletin is but one of the reasons they are fed up with the ministry.
“We welcome it, but it came too late,” Kavihuha said.
According to him the bone of contention is the cost-cutting measures which are “overloading and overburdening” teachers.
“And even the bulletin that the ministry plans to release by next month will not include positions for heads of departments, which is very problematic for us.”
This action comes exactly a year after teachers went on a countrywide strike demanding a salary hike of 8%, while the government offered 5%.
The government tried to halt the strike with an urgent application in the High Court but the court ruled in favour of the teachers.
JEMIMA BEUKES
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article