NDAMA East residents and former volunteer teachers are protesting a recruitment process at a Rundu school, alleging unfair exclusion of those who established the institution in 2022.
Ndama East Primary School in the Kavango East region started with just over 100 pupils.
It was officially declared legally operating by prime minister Elijah Ngurare and minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp on 19 September last year.
It now accommodates more than 1 600 pupils, which justifies about 40 teaching posts.
Before its formal recognition, the school operated under extremely difficult conditions. Pupils were taught under trees without proper seating, toilets, or water facilities, supported by 14 volunteer teachers, for four years.
Resident Domingu Matjayi on Tuesday at a community meeting criticised the recruitment process as unfair and dismissive of the volunteers’ sacrifices.
“All are qualified and dedicated, and only two were successfully appointed,” he said.
Former principal Ndara Aser on Tuesday said he used to work as a teacher during the day and a security guard at night.
“The education ministry has neglected us who have laid the school’s foundation. They have used and discarded of us,” he said.
Former teacher Laurencia Lukas called for compensation, arguing that volunteers were encouraged by officials to continue teaching and helped grow pupil numbers to justify permanent posts.
Ndama headman Olavi Mpande voiced the community’s frustration and called for intervention, urging the prime minister to revisit the matter and consider the volunteers.
Regional education director Christine Shilima this week confirmed that a submission regarding the issue had been made, but that no feedback had yet been received.
“I don’t have the power to appoint staff in accordance with a legal recruitment and interview process,” she said.
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