Nantu and Khomas directorate at loggerheads

THE Khomas Regional education director, Thea Seefeldt, is unfazed by a call by the the Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) to step down.

Nantu’s Khomas regional chairperson, Dankie Katjiuanjo, last week called on the ministry to fire Seefeldt.Katjiuanjo said the standoff between the union and Seefeldt hampered academic performance in the region.However, according to Seefeldt, Katjiuanjo earlier said that ‘this white woman will improve the grades in Khomas’ but now seems to have changed his tune.Katjiuanjo accused Seefeldt of failing to resolve educational issues.In a letter addressed to David Namwandi, the Deputy Minister of Education, Katjiuanjo said: ‘There is a serious undermining of our union as a recognised organisation.’The union alleged that certain promotions and appointments were done non-procedurally. ‘Appointments were deliberately prolonged, e.g. for the appointment of the Herero subject teacher for an entry post at Goreangab Junior Secondary School, the office of the minister has to intervene for the process to be completed.’Furthermore, it claimed, teachers at rural schools have had to vacate hostel accommodation and farm owners have cut off water and electricity provision, but the regional office turned a blind eye and refused responsibility.Seefeldt denied the allegations, saying that ‘the door between Nantu and the regional directorate was never closed from our side. I don’t understand where this is coming from.’She said all the issues that Katjiuanjo raised in his letter have been addressed and Nantu has been informed accordingly.According to her, Nantu informed her in June that it had withdrawn itself from all appointments and promotions in the Khomas Region.It is understood that personal grievances are at the heart of the dispute.Seefeldt said she has 3 000 teachers and 74 000 pupils to take care of and she cannot be dragged into personal vendettas.