Teachers dig deep for supplies

Long before the government wielded the axe of budget cuts on the education ministry, teachers in Omusati Region had been contributing money to pay for transport, learners' stationery, teaching aids and school administration expenses The ministry of education has not disbursed the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) funds to schools in the region yet. The voluntary contributions made by teachers to ensure that classes are not disrupted, will not be paid back by the government. These contributions were confirmed by the regional director for education for Omusati, Laban Shapange. He told Namibian Sun that some schools in his region had not received any money from the UPE and USE resource for the whole of last year and that his principals and teachers were funding school needs from their own pockets. Shapange could not say how many schools are affected by this, but said most of the affected schools were in the Outapi and Otamanzi circuit. “We are working on a deadlock here. The money we received from our ministry is not enough and we have to prioritise and our priority is schools with hostels. We have to feed those learners and make sure that essential services such as water and electricity are paid. For other schools we have to put their needs on hold,” Shapange said. He also said that although his region needed at least N$20 million for UPE and USE funds per year the ministry always sent an amount that was enough just for one circuit. “I am thankful to teachers and principals in my region. They go the extra mile to make sure that children receive the education they deserve,” Shapange said. UPE and USE funds replaced school development funds that used to be paid by parents. The ministry of education allocates money to every school to finance school operations and development based on the number of learners enrolled at that school. Currently, teachers are contributing money for transport, stationery, administration and teaching aids. “We use our own money for transport costs to the regional office in Outapi, which is 200km away. Teachers are using their own money to buy stationery for learners. Every time we ask the regional office they keep on telling us that they have not received anything from central government,” said Joel Nakanyala, principal of Ndeutala Angolo Primary School. “If school inspectors visit schools and don't find teaching aids in classes, it is always a big issue and teachers have to answer.” Education directors in the Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Oshana regions, however, fervently maintained that UPE and USE funds were distributed to schools without any challenge and were up to date. In an earlier interview with Namibian Sun, education permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp indicated that the budget cuts had a substantial impact on the education sector. “There will certainly be an impact and therefore we are appealing that parents should meet us halfway,” she was quoted as saying. ILENI NANDJATO

Teachers dig deep for supplies

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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Teachers dig deep for supplies

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-04

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