Nantu braces for showdown over teachers’ qualifications

THE Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) has drawn the battle lines with Government over the latter’s intention to boot unqualified and under-qualified teachers.

Nantu Secretary General Basilius Haingura told a media briefing in Windhoek last week that they were preparing for a showdown with Government, as it had no right to kick out unqualified and under-qualified teachers. A memorandum of understanding signed between Nantu and the Ministry of Education in 1999 states that all serving teachers with a Grade 10 or 12 certificate must upgrade their qualifications through a recognised tertiary institution by the end of 2007.Nantu claims that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) stated that no unqualified teacher would be employed but said that those with “exceptional circumstances” would remain in the job.Around 2 165 teachers, most of them over 40 years old, will not meet the requirement.Haingura said the union’s records showed that the numbers of unqualified teachers had dropped substantially since then.Nantu blamed the situation teachers found themselves in on the Ministry’s decision to disqualify Azaliah College – through which many unqualified teachers enrolled – as a recognised institution, and on limited spaces in tertiary institutions.The teachers’ union said the memorandum also did not contain any clause on terminating the services of teachers who were unable to obtain qualifications because of problems between institutions they were enrolled with and Government.Haingura said they would oppose any move by the Government to fire under-qualified teachers because many had been in the job for over 15 years and had a lot of experience.He claimed that qualifications did not necessarily mean quality education.Earlier, the union said a lack of teachers’ training colleges in the country contributed to many of its members not being able to get admission to the Government in-service training programme.It wants the issue handled with prudence and without ignoring the history of the country.Many teachers have already been threatened with expulsion by officials at regional offices – something Nantu regards as unacceptable.Last year, Nantu warned its members, some of whom have been in the profession for more than 15 years, that they risked being kicked out of their jobs if they failed to meet the required qualifications by the end of 2007.The union warned teachers who had abandoned their studies to return to their books immediately.Teachers at the primary level need a three-year diploma as a minimum requirement, while those at secondary schools must at least have a four-year degree, according to the memorandum.A memorandum of understanding signed between Nantu and the Ministry of Education in 1999 states that all serving teachers with a Grade 10 or 12 certificate must upgrade their qualifications through a recognised tertiary institution by the end of 2007.Nantu claims that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) stated that no unqualified teacher would be employed but said that those with “exceptional circumstances” would remain in the job.Around 2 165 teachers, most of them over 40 years old, will not meet the requirement.Haingura said the union’s records showed that the numbers of unqualified teachers had dropped substantially since then.Nantu blamed the situation teachers found themselves in on the Ministry’s decision to disqualify Azaliah College – through which many unqualified teachers enrolled – as a recognised institution, and on limited spaces in tertiary institutions.The teachers’ union said the memorandum also did not contain any clause on terminating the services of teachers who were unable to obtain qualifications because of problems between institutions they were enrolled with and Government.Haingura said they would oppose any move by the Government to fire under-qualified teachers because many had been in the job for over 15 years and had a lot of experience.He claimed that qualifications did not necessarily mean quality education.Earlier, the union said a lack of teachers’ training colleges in the country contributed to many of its members not being able to get admission to the Government in-service training programme.It wants the issue handled with prudence and without ignoring the history of the country.Many teachers have already been threatened with expulsion by officials at regional offices – something Nantu regards as unacceptable.Last year, Nantu warned its members, some of whom have been in the profession for more than 15 years, that they risked being kicked out of their jobs if they failed to meet the required qualifications by the end of 2007.The union warned teachers who had abandoned their studies to return to their books immediately.Teachers at the primary level need a three-year diploma as a minimum requirement, while those at secondary schools must at least have a four-year degree, according to the memorandum.