Amupanda angered by low teacher salaries
Govt forks out N$1.4bn to cover salary increment
Concern over teachers' salaries has sparked comments on social media, despite a recent increment.
Activist and Affirmative Repositioning (AR) presidential candidate Job Amupanda says teachers are being "mistreated by the corrupt regime".
In a recent post on his social media platforms, he took issue with educators' salary scales. “A teacher is paid at grade eight [scale] and a head of department is paid at grade six. Next is the principal at grade five. There is no grade seven. There is no explanation for 34 years for this mediocre grading,” he wrote.
Government salaries are divided into grades of payment, from grade one to 15 - grade 15 being the lowest.
According to education ministry chief human resource practitioner Kondjeni Tjilale, teachers' salary grades depend on their qualifications. Teachers with a three-year qualification are paid according to a grade nine scale, earning them between N$195 216 and N$234 144 a year, while teachers with a four-year qualification earn between N$238 825 and N$285 420 a year on grade eight.
Heads of department are on grade six and earn between N$354 833 and N$424 119 a year, while principals - on grade five - earn between N$432 601 and N$517 195 a year.
He stressed that the ministry does not set these salary grades and ranges - they are set by the Office of the Prime Minister. The ministry just follows these regulations, he said.
'Weak government'
According to Amupanda, pay gaps also existed in the Namibian Police. There was a gap between the salary grades for chief inspector and inspector, he said, adding that the rank of senior inspector was created last year to resolve this problem.
However, "this did not happen to teachers simply because Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) leaders are in Swapo structures and on boards", he claimed. "We can't stand by and watch teachers being mistreated by the corrupt regime," he added.
He further accused the ministry of double stands, placing the blame for the status quo at the feet of "a weak government that zigzags and has no clear standards".
According to him, if voted into power, he will introduce a grade seven salary scale for teachers, allowing them to be promoted to 'senior teacher'.
"Imagine teaching for 34 years and retiring as a teacher, while your learners grow to become professors and presidents. They must at least retire as senior teachers. This must end. It’s not fair!" the activist said.
Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
5% salary increment
Late last year, the government - alongside Nantu and the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) - agreed on a flat increase of N$600 per month for salary grades 15 and 14, while pay grades 13 to one will see a 5% boost in basic salary. These changes took effect in April, and were expected to cost government a total of N$1.4 billion.
In the most recent inflation prediction by the Bank of Namibia, on 19 June, the inflation rate for 2024 is expected to average out at 4.9% - which means that the 5% salary increase will only cover this inflation.
The N$600 per month increase represents an average 17.29% increase for pay grade 15 and 11.31% for pay grade 14.
Meanwhile, housing subsidies for civil servants have been significantly increased. Previously, those earning up to N$60 000 annually qualified for loans of N$220 000. This has been increased to N$400 000. For individuals earning between N$60 000 and N$90 000, the housing capital has been raised from N$297 000 to N$540 000.
In a recent post on his social media platforms, he took issue with educators' salary scales. “A teacher is paid at grade eight [scale] and a head of department is paid at grade six. Next is the principal at grade five. There is no grade seven. There is no explanation for 34 years for this mediocre grading,” he wrote.
Government salaries are divided into grades of payment, from grade one to 15 - grade 15 being the lowest.
According to education ministry chief human resource practitioner Kondjeni Tjilale, teachers' salary grades depend on their qualifications. Teachers with a three-year qualification are paid according to a grade nine scale, earning them between N$195 216 and N$234 144 a year, while teachers with a four-year qualification earn between N$238 825 and N$285 420 a year on grade eight.
Heads of department are on grade six and earn between N$354 833 and N$424 119 a year, while principals - on grade five - earn between N$432 601 and N$517 195 a year.
He stressed that the ministry does not set these salary grades and ranges - they are set by the Office of the Prime Minister. The ministry just follows these regulations, he said.
'Weak government'
According to Amupanda, pay gaps also existed in the Namibian Police. There was a gap between the salary grades for chief inspector and inspector, he said, adding that the rank of senior inspector was created last year to resolve this problem.
However, "this did not happen to teachers simply because Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) leaders are in Swapo structures and on boards", he claimed. "We can't stand by and watch teachers being mistreated by the corrupt regime," he added.
He further accused the ministry of double stands, placing the blame for the status quo at the feet of "a weak government that zigzags and has no clear standards".
According to him, if voted into power, he will introduce a grade seven salary scale for teachers, allowing them to be promoted to 'senior teacher'.
"Imagine teaching for 34 years and retiring as a teacher, while your learners grow to become professors and presidents. They must at least retire as senior teachers. This must end. It’s not fair!" the activist said.
Nantu secretary-general Loide Shaanika did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.
5% salary increment
Late last year, the government - alongside Nantu and the Namibia Public Workers Union (Napwu) - agreed on a flat increase of N$600 per month for salary grades 15 and 14, while pay grades 13 to one will see a 5% boost in basic salary. These changes took effect in April, and were expected to cost government a total of N$1.4 billion.
In the most recent inflation prediction by the Bank of Namibia, on 19 June, the inflation rate for 2024 is expected to average out at 4.9% - which means that the 5% salary increase will only cover this inflation.
The N$600 per month increase represents an average 17.29% increase for pay grade 15 and 11.31% for pay grade 14.
Meanwhile, housing subsidies for civil servants have been significantly increased. Previously, those earning up to N$60 000 annually qualified for loans of N$220 000. This has been increased to N$400 000. For individuals earning between N$60 000 and N$90 000, the housing capital has been raised from N$297 000 to N$540 000.
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