The Injustice Of Government Regrading
THE planned shake-up in government salaries perpetuates economical injustices among teachers, contrary to the supposed narrowing of the gap between different teaching categories driven by the Nantu [Namibia National Teachers’ Union] that claims to represent teachers.
Not so long ago junior principals (formerly T4B) at primary and combined schools were upgraded to T4C so that they are remunerated the same as their counterparts at senior secondary level. This act was discriminatory to education officers who remained in the T4B category. I believe the decision to equate junior principals’ salaries to those of senior school principals was that they were all principals despite that some primary schools have a paltry number of learners and teachers.
As if that were not enough, the new re-grading condoned that decision as sound and probably reasonable. Why is there no difference between junior and senior school principals but there is a difference between teachers with Basic Education Training Diploma [BETD] (T3A, maximum notch N$163 779) and Bachelor of Education degree [BEd] (T3B, maximum notch N$199 645)? These two groups of teachers have been remunerated differently and the status quo was once again emphasised by the new re-grading proposal, although they are all qualified teachers. Why are they not grouped and remunerated the same as principals? What made junior principals and senior secondary principals equal but not BETD and BEd teachers? What criteria were used to equate principals’ salaries and cannot be deemed applicable to teachers?
Interestingly enough the new re-grading has given principals a handsome increment of over N$100 000 per annum if one calculates the difference between maximum notches. This takes me back to my question above; do teachers as the majority members of Nantu knowingly or unknowingly elect persons who have none of their interests at heart? Have the teachers noted that any improvement in the employment conditions bargained by Nantu benefited principals more than ordinary teachers? Are the teachers aware that the secretary general of Nantu was also a principal? That means he had tried by all means to ensure that he took care of his own interests should he go back to school.
Teachers must be the most patient of the civil servants in this country. A lot of injustices are done to them but when they take action, their action is deemed illegal by the very Nantu that claims to represent them. I do not know when a Messiah will come to their rescue. I am of the opinion that all teachers should be paid the same salary regardless of the level of school they are qualified to teach. Otherwise the harmonisation of all school principals’ salaries is then unjustifiable.
Shaqu
Teacher Justice Watchdog