Unemployed Rundu teachers establish school
‘Determined to ease govt’s headache’
Some of the teachers graduated in 2019 and have yet to secure jobs.
After struggling to find jobs, 18 qualified teachers from Rundu have started constructing a school in their neighbourhood.
They are determined to ease government’s headache of overcrowded classrooms, they said.
Situated in Rundu’s Tuhingireni informal settlement, the Tuhingireni-Cuma Combined School was established this year following the initiative by the jobless teachers who opted not to sit at home with their qualifications.
Instead, they are determined to make use of the knowledge they acquired from varsity to educate the Namibian child.
Some of the teachers graduated in 2019 and have yet to secure jobs.
The school is a short distance away from Siguruguru Primary School in the Tumweneni informal settlement, which was established in the same manner.
Siguruguru started with fewer than 200 learners in 2020. Today, it boasts close to 1 000 learners, while the school has been recognised by the state with teachers employed on a permanent basis.
Donated land
According to the group’s spokesperson Jesaya Sindimba, the idea for Tuhingireni-Cuma was birthed in December during a meeting when a number of youth raised ideas on how they can create their own jobs and meet government halfway.
He said they pitched the idea to various leaders in the region, which saw them acquiring a piece of land via donation from a couple who sacrificed their crop field to the determined group.
When Namibian Sun arrived yesterday morning, the teachers were cutting and cleaning logs, which they will use as chairs as they do not have funds to buy furniture.
“As you can see, there is nothing much. We just started and with the little support we got, we managed to put up these structures,” Sindimba said.
He added that they are determined for the school to be recognised by government, which will mean that they can get the necessary support.
“We are not turning back,” he said.
With 91 learners enrolled thus far, Sindimba said this number increases by the day as parents who have not secured placement for their children make contact with them.
Difficult finding a job
He further narrated how difficult it is to secure a job as a teacher - despite having the necessary qualifications.
“I graduated in 2021 and I still have not secured a job. We are in an era where an advert for a single post will attract more than 200 applicants. We lose a lot of money to travel to those schools, yet you don’t secure the job.”
He added that since Tuhingireni-Cuma has no financial backbone, they will appreciate any assistance they can get to ensure effective teaching and learning can take place.
The school is in need of infrastructure building materials, teaching and learning resources, furniture, toilets and water – “preferably a 10 000-litre water tank” - as well as fencing material, he said.
In the meantime, the group’s representatives had a meeting with Kavango East education director Fanuel Kapapero to receive guidance on how to get the school recognised by the state.
[email protected]
They are determined to ease government’s headache of overcrowded classrooms, they said.
Situated in Rundu’s Tuhingireni informal settlement, the Tuhingireni-Cuma Combined School was established this year following the initiative by the jobless teachers who opted not to sit at home with their qualifications.
Instead, they are determined to make use of the knowledge they acquired from varsity to educate the Namibian child.
Some of the teachers graduated in 2019 and have yet to secure jobs.
The school is a short distance away from Siguruguru Primary School in the Tumweneni informal settlement, which was established in the same manner.
Siguruguru started with fewer than 200 learners in 2020. Today, it boasts close to 1 000 learners, while the school has been recognised by the state with teachers employed on a permanent basis.
Donated land
According to the group’s spokesperson Jesaya Sindimba, the idea for Tuhingireni-Cuma was birthed in December during a meeting when a number of youth raised ideas on how they can create their own jobs and meet government halfway.
He said they pitched the idea to various leaders in the region, which saw them acquiring a piece of land via donation from a couple who sacrificed their crop field to the determined group.
When Namibian Sun arrived yesterday morning, the teachers were cutting and cleaning logs, which they will use as chairs as they do not have funds to buy furniture.
“As you can see, there is nothing much. We just started and with the little support we got, we managed to put up these structures,” Sindimba said.
He added that they are determined for the school to be recognised by government, which will mean that they can get the necessary support.
“We are not turning back,” he said.
With 91 learners enrolled thus far, Sindimba said this number increases by the day as parents who have not secured placement for their children make contact with them.
Difficult finding a job
He further narrated how difficult it is to secure a job as a teacher - despite having the necessary qualifications.
“I graduated in 2021 and I still have not secured a job. We are in an era where an advert for a single post will attract more than 200 applicants. We lose a lot of money to travel to those schools, yet you don’t secure the job.”
He added that since Tuhingireni-Cuma has no financial backbone, they will appreciate any assistance they can get to ensure effective teaching and learning can take place.
The school is in need of infrastructure building materials, teaching and learning resources, furniture, toilets and water – “preferably a 10 000-litre water tank” - as well as fencing material, he said.
In the meantime, the group’s representatives had a meeting with Kavango East education director Fanuel Kapapero to receive guidance on how to get the school recognised by the state.
[email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article