Govt snubs teachers

CABINET has “disowned” what it has termed an “erroneous” and “illegal” move to re-grade the job categories of teachers.

Shortly after a nationwide protest of teachers for better salaries, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah made a press announcement in Windhoek, saying Cabinet would not even contemplate implementing the new grading system according to which 191 new teachers have been paid since last year, because it represented a major policy shift from the current pay policy of the Public Service of Namibia. On the other hand, Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) Secretary General Miriam Hamutenya brushed off the Minister’s remarks, saying negotiations on implementing the disputed structure “are progressing very well”.”We don’t take it seriously [the Minister’s announcement].Teachers won’t be silenced by that,” said Hamutenya when approached by The Namibian.Hamutenya maintained that Nandi-Ndaitwah was merely repeating what Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba said a month ago, on instruction from Cabinet.Nandi-Ndaitwah said officials within the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education had exceeded their authority by authorising the implementation of the re-grading measures.Steps were being taken to identify those involved and they would face disciplinary action, Nandi-Ndaitwah warned.”Since neither Cabinet endorsement nor Treasury approval was sought and obtained before the implementation of the policy proposal on the revised appointment requirements, it is therefore obvious that action taken so far was illegal,” the Information and Broadcasting Minister said.Nandi-Ndaitwah made the announcement in the presence of Education Permanent Secretary Vitalis Ankama and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Steve Katjiuanjo, through whose offices documentation approving the implementation of the structure had passed.Documents in The Namibian’s possession indicate that the much-talked-about new pay structure also passed through the Office of the President and even that of National Intelligence.On December 18 2003, the Office of the Prime Minister, on recommendation of the Public Service Commission, wrote to the Ministry of Education, informing it that it had approved the revised appointment of teachers and that it would be implemented from January 1 2004.When Government failed to implement the decision, Nantu went back to them and in February this year a joint statement was issued by the teachers’ union and the Ministry of Education, in which Government blamed a heavy administrative workload for the delay and called for patience from teachers.The Ministry promised to implement the measure once the funds were made available in the budget.Last month it backtracked on the promise and cancelled this agreement with Nantu.Hamutenya said the union would not accept Government’s claim that the implementation of the revised structure was illegal, claiming that more than 40 other job categories in other sectors of the Public Service had already been adjusted under the same decision.”That’s not our business.We are just demanding our rights,” Hamutenya told The Namibian.Government said yesterday that it could not condone the violation of the Public Service and the State Finance Acts, as it would create a precedent for future violations.Civil servants, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, would further be encouraged to continue breaching legal frameworks.The Minister could not say how many people had been involved in the bungled implementation plan but said that Government viewed the situation as a “serious matter” and it could not be left unaddressed.Implementing the disputed structure, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, would exacerbate tension among various categories of teachers because only 6 000 of the country’s more than 18 500 teachers would receive a salary hike.Government further feared an “exodus of teachers” from primary to secondary levels in search of higher salaries because the revised structure discriminates on this basis.”Such a re-grading system will create serious imbalances within the whole civil service in terms of salary levels with negative consequences,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.Although accusing Nantu of negotiating in bad faith for going “to the public to canvass support on the issue”, Government said it did not dispute the rights of teachers and their union to claim benefits, but that this had to be done through agreed channels.”It is regrettable that Nantu has resorted to public demonstrations and seeking public support, while at the same time Nantu and the GRN have been involved in discussions to try and find an amicable solution to the dispute,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.Hamutenya said the teachers’ protest action was merely to demand their rights and express their anger at Government’s reluctance to increase their salaries.Nandi-Ndaitwah said Nantu’s protest action was ill-timed, given that President Hifikepunye Pohamba was currently in New York at the UN summit “representing the interest of Namibia.”In response, Hamutenya said Government was “politicising” the issue and that the march was planned on August 23, when the President was still in the country.She said Government was concerned about Nantu’s threat to strike if they did not get their way and terming the move “blackmail”.Government and the recognised trade unions are set to start negotiating soon for improved service conditions for their members.Over the last three years, teachers have received an 18 per cent salary increase, as have all public servants.On the other hand, Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) Secretary General Miriam Hamutenya brushed off the Minister’s remarks, saying negotiations on implementing the disputed structure “are progressing very well”.”We don’t take it seriously [the Minister’s announcement].Teachers won’t be silenced by that,” said Hamutenya when approached by The Namibian.Hamutenya maintained that Nandi-Ndaitwah was merely repeating what Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba said a month ago, on instruction from Cabinet.Nandi-Ndaitwah said officials within the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education had exceeded their authority by authorising the implementation of the re-grading measures.Steps were being taken to identify those involved and they would face disciplinary action, Nandi-Ndaitwah warned.”Since neither Cabinet endorsement nor Treasury approval was sought and obtained before the implementation of the policy proposal on the revised appointment requirements, it is therefore obvious that action taken so far was illegal,” the Information and Broadcasting Minister said.Nandi-Ndaitwah made the announcement in the presence of Education Permanent Secretary Vitalis Ankama and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Steve Katjiuanjo, through whose offices documentation approving the implementation of the structure had passed.Documents in The Namibian’s possession indicate that the much-talked-about new pay structure also passed through the Office of the President and even that of National Intelligence. On December 18 2003, the Office of the Prime Minister, on recommendation of the Public Service Commission, wrote to the Ministry of Education, informing it that it had approved the revised appointment of teachers and that it would be implemented from January 1 2004.When Government failed to implement the decision, Nantu went back to them and in February this year a joint statement was issued by the teachers’ union and the Ministry of Education, in which Government blamed a heavy administrative workload for the delay and called for patience from teachers.The Ministry promised to implement the measure once the funds were made available in the budget.Last month it backtracked on the promise and cancelled this agreement with Nantu.Hamutenya said the union would not accept Government’s claim that the implementation of the revised structure was illegal, claiming that more than 40 other job categories in other sectors of the Public Service had already been adjusted under the same decision.”That’s not our business.We are just demanding our rights,” Hamutenya told The Namibian.Government said yesterday that it could not condone the violation of the Public Service and the State Finance Acts, as it would create a precedent for future violations.Civil servants, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, would further be encouraged to continue breaching legal frameworks.The Minister could not say how many people had been involved in the bungled implementation plan but said that Government viewed the situation as a “serious matter” and it could not be left unaddressed.Implementing the disputed structure, Nandi-Ndaitwah said, would exacerbate tension among various categories of teachers because only 6 000 of the country’s more than 18 500 teachers would receive a salary hike.Government further feared an “exodus of teachers” from primary to secondary levels in search of higher salaries because the revised structure discriminates on this basis.”Such a re-grading system will create serious imbalances within the whole civil service in terms of salary levels with negative consequences,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.Although accusing Nantu of negotiating in bad faith for going “to the public to canvass support on the issue”, Government said it did not dispute the rights of teachers and their union to claim benefits, but that this had to be done through agreed channels.”It is regrettable that Nantu has resorted to public demonstrations and seeking public support, while at the same time Nantu and the GRN have been involved in discussions to try and find an amicable solution to the dispute,” said Nandi-Ndaitwah.Hamutenya said the teachers’ protest action was merely to demand their rights and express their anger at Government’s reluctance to increase their salaries.Nandi-Ndaitwah said Nantu’s protest action was ill-timed, given that President Hifikepunye Pohamba was currently in New York at the UN summit “representing the interest of Namibia.”In response, Hamutenya said Government was “politicising” the issue and that the march was planned on August 23, when the President was still in the country.She said Government was concerned about Nantu’s threat to strike if they did not get their way and terming the move “blackmail”.Government and the recognised trade unions are set to start negotiating soon for improved service conditions for their members.Over the last three years, teachers have received an 18 per cent salary increase, as have all public servants.