Better conditions needed to draw teachers to rural areas

QUALIFIED teachers will continue to avoid rural schools unless the Ministry of Basic Education improves the living conditions of teachers there, says a Swapo MP.

Karlous Shinohamba told the National Council last week that if the Ministry of Basic Education built proper houses for teachers at rural schools, it would encourage even qualified teachers to apply for posts there. “Now, they will not go there because of poor conditions,” said Shinohamba.He said the Minister should also consider increasing the salaries of teachers.At present, he added, many teachers were leaving the profession for greener pastures.”If we want quality education, we must pay them better salaries,” he added.He also called on the Ministry of Basic Education to build more sport facilities – especially in his region – as there was a big need for it.Sport, Shinohamba said, helped keep the youth away from criminal activities.Swapo’s Philemon Ndjambula called on the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to choose players for the national soccer team from all 13 regions of the country.He alleged that currently the Brave Warriors consisted only of players from Windhoek and Tsumeb.His Swapo colleague, Fluksman Samuehls, noted that the Brave Warriors had disappointed the nation on several occasions.However, he felt that the as yet unfinished Katutura Soccer Stadium would attract many soccer lovers to go and support the national soccer team.He said many people found it difficult to get the Independence Stadium in Olympia because of transport problems.Samuehls felt that once completed, the Katutura Soccer Stadium would revive the type of spirit seen in soccer in Namibia 15 years ago.He thanked The Namibian newspaper for organising the regional The Namibian Newspaper Cup annually, noting that soccer was the world’s most popular sport.Samuehls then slammed Namibia’s foreign-based soccer players, who preferred to play for their clubs when they were called up for the national duty.He said these players should make sure that their country came first.He accused them of valuing money above the interests of their country.The two Swapo MP’s were speaking during the debate on the 2004-2005 Appropriations Bill in the National Council.”Now, they will not go there because of poor conditions,” said Shinohamba.He said the Minister should also consider increasing the salaries of teachers.At present, he added, many teachers were leaving the profession for greener pastures.”If we want quality education, we must pay them better salaries,” he added.He also called on the Ministry of Basic Education to build more sport facilities – especially in his region – as there was a big need for it.Sport, Shinohamba said, helped keep the youth away from criminal activities.Swapo’s Philemon Ndjambula called on the Namibia Football Association (NFA) to choose players for the national soccer team from all 13 regions of the country.He alleged that currently the Brave Warriors consisted only of players from Windhoek and Tsumeb.His Swapo colleague, Fluksman Samuehls, noted that the Brave Warriors had disappointed the nation on several occasions.However, he felt that the as yet unfinished Katutura Soccer Stadium would attract many soccer lovers to go and support the national soccer team.He said many people found it difficult to get the Independence Stadium in Olympia because of transport problems.Samuehls felt that once completed, the Katutura Soccer Stadium would revive the type of spirit seen in soccer in Namibia 15 years ago.He thanked The Namibian newspaper for organising the regional The Namibian Newspaper Cup annually, noting that soccer was the world’s most popular sport.Samuehls then slammed Namibia’s foreign-based soccer players, who preferred to play for their clubs when they were called up for the national duty.He said these players should make sure that their country came first.He accused them of valuing money above the interests of their country.The two Swapo MP’s were speaking during the debate on the 2004-2005 Appropriations Bill in the National Council.