Education minister risks throwing teachers under bus

It has been a while since we’ve heard from education, arts and culture minister Anna Nghipondoka. Whether this was out of choice or due to some busy schedules, it could be none of our business. We have been hearing from executive director Sanet Steenkamp. She has been helping us to cope with our difficulties of learning and teaching. As this is the ‘Year of Expectation’, as declared by late president Hage Geingob (may he rest in peace), this may not seem surprising as we march on.As a veteran teacher, I am disturbed by remarks by the minister, telling teachers to "think outside of the box" because parents will not accept failure or poor performance because of a lack of classrooms or overcrowding. What came to my mind is: Is the minister trying to create the impression that we, the teachers, may be doing little to educate the Namibian child, or that she must not be blamed for the possible failure on its way? Where was the minister all these days when we needed her the most?By the end of last term, there were controversies about writing the end-of-term tests. A survey was conducted by the ministry to find out what teachers prefer. The teachers recommended that the tests be written. Later on, an instruction, through a directive, reached the schools mostly in the northern regions that the tests will only be conducted after the school holiday and that no child must be bothered. Teachers complied. Then later another directive came that the test is no longer coming and that teachers must assess the learners before they go on holiday. Teachers tried their best to give the learners at least something to do.Teachers on their ownTeachers have been on their own as new things, directives and the amended Education Act were introduced. That is where our disciplinary dilemma came to haunt the classroom environment. The rule is that teachers must not do anything that affects the learners emotionally, psychologically and/or physically. That is when we read about a teacher being dismissed for corporal punishment. There is also another teacher who was slapped with a 13-year sentence by the court for forging a qualification and attempting to kill a fellow. Not long ago but soon after the holiday, Oshigambo High School was terrorised by a minor who conducted himself as a pastor. Oshigambo is a religious school of the Finnish missionaries. The learner is in the revival and/or charismatic churches. One would have thought the most senior official would come to the rescue of the school. It ended up being handled like any other simple matter. Minister, your presence is an absolute necessity!The overcrowding in schools has led to a lack of classrooms. This backlog is caused by the Covid-19 generation. Many learners who are in grades four to seven have counting, listening, reading and writing difficulties. This is because when Covid-19 became a threat to the lives of the children and their families, schools were closed and they were taught through virtual assignment activities. The worst part of it was that there were no textbooks delivered to schools in the last 10 years. And again, the ministry has only allocated N$300 per child per the financial year. What can such an amount buy in this world for a whole school year?Teachers are forced to do more financial administration than teaching. They are not only contributing to schools from their own meagre earnings, but also do fundraising activities for their respective schools. Teachers use their personal smartphones to do schoolwork while most of their seniors get gadgets and airtime on the government’s expense.In the bygone days, we used to sloganeer that "an injury to one is an injury to all". It seems that is no longer the case.Gender discriminationWomen in the education fraternity are now organising themselves to capture all strategic positions in public spaces without considering the male-imposed vulnerability. If you think it is a joke, look at this Oshikoto Region's example:Minister - woman Deputy minister - womanRegional director - womanInspector - womanMajority of principals - womenMajority of heads of departments - womenMajority of best performers - women.Let's hear what the unions have to say because years ago, they were never silenced by politicians. But now trade unions are treated like the handkerchief. Gone are days when the minister would impress upon us with slogans like "teach, teach, teach! Study, study, study!”I came back to teaching because the late Abraham Iyambo (rest in peace) called teachers back to their positions around 2009. Now it is a different world in which more veteran teachers go on early retirement to look for peace of mind. But hardly anyone wonders why? Let us hope there is light at the end of the tunnel.**Shitefa Sha Mvula is an 2014 and 2023 best English teacher for grades five and seven in the Onkumbula and Onyaanya circuit (2023) and overall best English Teacher in the Oshikoto Region (2014).

Education minister risks throwing teachers under bus

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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Education minister risks throwing teachers under bus

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-02

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