‘Get money from GIPF, SSC, ODC’

THOUSANDS of angry teachers marched countrywide yesterday to demonstrate against a Cabinet decision to nullify an earlier undertaking to increase salaries and benefits for long-serving teachers.

The teachers defied a Government order to refrain from demonstrating, as they are hoping to push the State into bowing to pressure and promised that the next action would be a potentially crippling national strike. Organised by the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) and supported by the rival Teachers’ Union of Namibia (TUN), the teachers demanded that the State get money from the Government Institutions’ Pension Fund (GIPF), Social Security Commission (SSC) and the Overseas Development Company (ODC) to increase their salaries and benefits.Receiving the petition in Windhoek, where teachers marched almost 7 km from Katutura to the Government Office Park, Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba said he would hand it over to President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who is out of the country.Even that promise was not enough for the hundreds of teachers, who responded that they wanted “action now”.On placards they waved during the march, the teachers threatened to strike at examination time if Government failed to up their salaries.”HIGCSE exams? IGCSE exams? Watch out! Month-long strike! You will see!” one placard in Windhoek vowed.Throughout the march, they chanted: “A hungry teacher is an angry teacher”.”It will be a sorry state of affairs if the Government ignores the plea,” Joseph Pieters told The Namibian from the Hardap Region.He is the Chairperson of Nantu in that region and organised marches at Mariental, Gibeon, Maltahoehe, Gochas, Stampriet, Aranos, Kalkrand and Rehoboth.At Otjiwarongo the regional chairperson, Gerson ‘Striker’ /Uiseb, said there was only one step left – a strike.”We were one as in black and white, Nantu and TUN, teachers, learners and parents.It will be a mistake to take the demonstration lightly,” he said.He was in charge of a demonstration that covered places such as Kalkfeld, Gam, Tsumkwe, Tsumeb and Oshivelo.In Oshakati, a large number of teachers, supported by parents and pupils, marched approximately 2 km, singing ‘What Have We Done’ and ‘We Are Hungry’.Led by the deputy chairperson of the region, John Kanyemba, the teachers came from as far as the Omusati and Oshikoto regions and demanded that Government find ways to come up with the money.Sources said the new structure would cost the Government an average of around N$2 000 more per teacher per month.For 18 500 teachers it would amount to around N$37 million more a month, or N$444 million a year.In the petition that was read throughout the country, the teachers demanded that the Cabinet withdraw an earlier statement that nullified the new grading system, that the revised appointment be implemented and that the Government stop discriminating against teachers.James Groenewaldt, Nantu chairperson in the central region, claimed Government increased salaries of other civil servants “without saying a word” and that their patience has run dry.With the demonstration now something of the past, teachers await the outcome of conciliation board meetings between Nantu and the Government, being chaired by the Office of the Labour Commissioner.Organised by the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) and supported by the rival Teachers’ Union of Namibia (TUN), the teachers demanded that the State get money from the Government Institutions’ Pension Fund (GIPF), Social Security Commission (SSC) and the Overseas Development Company (ODC) to increase their salaries and benefits.Receiving the petition in Windhoek, where teachers marched almost 7 km from Katutura to the Government Office Park, Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba said he would hand it over to President Hifikepunye Pohamba, who is out of the country. Even that promise was not enough for the hundreds of teachers, who responded that they wanted “action now”.On placards they waved during the march, the teachers threatened to strike at examination time if Government failed to up their salaries.”HIGCSE exams? IGCSE exams? Watch out! Month-long strike! You will see!” one placard in Windhoek vowed.Throughout the march, they chanted: “A hungry teacher is an angry teacher”.”It will be a sorry state of affairs if the Government ignores the plea,” Joseph Pieters told The Namibian from the Hardap Region.He is the Chairperson of Nantu in that region and organised marches at Mariental, Gibeon, Maltahoehe, Gochas, Stampriet, Aranos, Kalkrand and Rehoboth.At Otjiwarongo the regional chairperson, Gerson ‘Striker’ /Uiseb, said there was only one step left – a strike.”We were one as in black and white, Nantu and TUN, teachers, learners and parents.It will be a mistake to take the demonstration lightly,” he said.He was in charge of a demonstration that covered places such as Kalkfeld, Gam, Tsumkwe, Tsumeb and Oshivelo.In Oshakati, a large number of teachers, supported by parents and pupils, marched approximately 2 km, singing ‘What Have We Done’ and ‘We Are Hungry’.Led by the deputy chairperson of the region, John Kanyemba, the teachers came from as far as the Omusati and Oshikoto regions and demanded that Government find ways to come up with the money.Sources said the new structure would cost the Government an average of around N$2 000 more per teacher per month.For 18 500 teachers it would amount to around N$37 million more a month, or N$444 million a year.In the petition that was read throughout the country, the teachers demanded that the Cabinet withdraw an earlier statement that nullified the new grading system, that the revised appointment be implemented and that the Government stop discriminating against teachers.James Groenewaldt, Nantu chairperson in the central region, claimed Government increased salaries of other civil servants “without saying a word” and that their patience has run dry. With the demonstration now something of the past, teachers await the outcome of conciliation board meetings between Nantu and the Government, being chaired by the Office of the Labour Commissioner.