The Suffering Of Teachers
ALLOW me to air my views on the issue of extending working hours for teachers. I read Mr Maletsky’s call on this matter. It seems some of the Namibians need to tour this country and see the life teachers live. Let me give facts.
How many schools in Namibia are without houses and drinking water? Five years back, the Kandume Comb School in Oshikoto Region’s teachers were buying 25 litres of water for ten dollars from locals.
The Swapo Secretary General went to visit the school and compared their accommodation to Ramatex.
She is a Minister – what has she done for this school to improve the situation? Never reported by good journalists like Mr Maletsky.
How many teachers have died of hippo attacks in the eastern Caprivi floodplains? We are the only government employees still travelling to workshops using our own money.
Do you know the rates the teachers are paid at when they come for marking in Windhoek?
And how much is paid to an employee in the Trade Ministry when he travels to Windhoek in the GRN car from Oshakati.
There are teachers that are still walking up to ten km to and from school everyday. Have you seen a teacher in the Namibia putting on a suit next to a hut in Okongo?
When a nurse is appointed they make sure that there is water and accommodation at that clinic or a water tank will be provided water every week to that clinic. What about teachers?
Our biggest problem that is hampering the teachers is the affiliation of Nantu to Swapo.
They plan together and deny that teachers are suffering in this country.
Go to Ongwediva and see the rooms they sleep in when attending workshops.
The current Director of Omusati refused to enter a staffroom at a school because she might catch a disease as it was too congested. A storeroom with 22 teachers!
These are the conditions teachers are working in. Go to Oomanya, Onkumbula, Muzii, Oshamakaka and see the teachers in these areas then report in your columns nicely.
Minister Iyambo and Mr Maletsky let’s go to these places and report what happens during floods and rainy seasons.
Richard Black
Oshikoto Region