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Thursday, October 27, 2005 - Web posted at 7:06:50 GMT Nantu, Govt strike deal on teachers' salaries *CHRISTOF MALETSKYTALKS between the Government and the Namibia National Teachers' Union (Nantu) on a new salary structure for the profession have been concluded and referred to Cabinet for approval. |
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Labour Commissioner Bro-Matthew Shinguadja told The Namibian yesterday that the two parties agreed, in his presence, on a deal that he says will improve the teaching profession as a whole and encourage more people to become teachers. He was, however, not at liberty to reveal the finer details until Cabinet approved the deal. "It is not just about salaries for a few individuals. We have made teaching more attractive and teachers, with the right qualifications, will no longer stagnate in the system. We have also eliminated the differences in the salaries of teachers at primary and secondary levels," Shinguadja said. He was cautious not to call the new development "an agreement". Nantu, backed by the Teachers' Union of Namibia, staged a mass demonstration last month to demand the implementation of previously agreed salary increases. But a few hours later, Nantu backed down and reached a compromise with Government on scrapping the salary agreement. Government had argued that the previous agreement would cost the State close to N$500 million to improve the salaries and benefits of only around 6 000 teachers. Education Permanent Secretary Vitalis Ankama said under the old agreement, which Nantu was pushing to be implemented, a new teacher with a Basic Education Teaching Diploma (BETD) and no experience would have earned N$110 000 a year since January 2004 while their counterparts who joined until a month earlier were earning N$56 000 a year. In other cases, the salaries would have even tripled, according to Ankama. The Ministry of Education was given the task of coming up with a new proposal that must be accepted by Nantu before it is approved by Cabinet. The new development averted threats of a national strike, as Government promised to improve the salaries of 12 200 teachers in the bargaining unit. The remaining teachers - about 6 300 - are either at management level, under-qualified or vocational teachers not covered by the talks. Shinguadja said both Nantu and the Government negotiating team hoped that Cabinet would approve the new deal. "The only problem is the implementation date. Cabinet will definitely consider the money aspect but the principles of the deal are fine," he said. Shinguadja said the discussions also touched on the standard of education in Namibia and acknowledged that the quality of teaching had to be improved. "There is a need to weigh the increases against the output of the teachers. Is it worthwhile to pay a small number of people a lot of money while they don't deliver?" the Labour Commissioner said. A Government negotiating team source said earlier that although a deal would be finalised soon, money would only reach teachers after next year's National Budget is approved by Parliament. The Nantu leadership could not be reached for comment. Both the President and the Secretary General, whom The Namibian was referred to, were out of office. |
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