Teachers threaten to disrupt elections over dismissed colleague

Teachers in the northern regions have given the education ministry until the end of August to reinstate fired educator Petrus Ndeulita - or they will disrupt the upcoming national elections slated for November.

The teachers also threatened to abscond from the upcoming examinations as well as hold a nationwide demonstration if the ministry fails to comply with their demand.

Ndeulita was dismissed last month from Hashiyana Primary School in Ongwediva due to an incident which happened three years ago when he allegedly punished a grade seven learner by making him hold a chair over his head for over an hour. After a demonstration at the Oshana regional education directorate last Friday, the group delivered a seven-page document addressed to education minister Anna Nghipondoka, the prime minister, labour commissioner, labour minister and Office of the President, demanding that the ministry reinstate Ndeulita on or before 31 August. Failure to do so will result in another mass demonstration of teachers countrywide, they said.

“We are also prepared to ensure that national final examinations will not go on if Ndeulita is not reinstated. If this means that Namibian teachers will become the Kenyan youth of 2024, then we are prepared. In fact, if they want to fire some of us who are spearheading this event, we are more than prepared - but we will fight this until our last bullet. This might even disrupt the national elections slated for November,” the petition read in part.



Not fair, transparent

The teachers are demanding answers on what grounds the education ministry dismissed Ndeulita when the Public Service Act caters for four other disciplinary actions, which include a fine not exceeding N$2 000, a transfer to another post, or having their salary or rank reduced, they explained.

The teachers, through chairperson Petrus Shiweva, argued that the Act was not applied fairly and transparently and was also not applied in totality, but was instead applied to favour certain individuals.

They demanded that Ndeulita be reinstated and that a fair and transparent investigation be launched.

“We demand that the [education ministry] executive director [Sanet Steenkamp] be removed from the whole process since she has conflict of interest,” the petition read.

The teachers also demanded that Hashiyana former principal Amon Ndeitwa be fired or transferred, but not to the Ongwediva Teachers Resource Centre (OTRC) as he allegedly continues to affect the teaching and learning at the school since he was removed in 2022 and placed at OTRC.

Other demands include an investigation into Steenkamp’s alleged relationship with Ndeitwa, and that the ministry review the Act “as it gives too much power to learners and leaves teachers with no way to discipline them”.



Resign from Nantu

The aggrieved educators’ petition also called on all Namibian teachers to resign from the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu).

“The union has shown that it not only betrays us during salary negotiations, but also during difficult times such as this.”

Steenkamp told Namibian Sun last week that Ndeulita was free to appeal the decision taken by the ministry.

Meanwhile, Ndeitwa has denied having his knife out for the dismissed teacher and said the process was transparent, adding that he, as former principal, had no direct influence on it.



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