MORE than 200 unemployed graduate teachers, who were selected for interviews at Ndapona ya Shikende Primary School in the Ohangwena region, refused any further interviews, citing a lack of transparency and irregularities in the selection process.
The unemployed graduates claim the school practises favouritism, nepotism and appoints teachers unfairly.
The group is demanding job placements and claims the interviewing process is a waste of time and resources.
They say the hiring of teachers is not based on merit, but rather on nepotism.
The group told they would snub all interviews in the region until their demands are met by the Office of the Prime Minister, to which a petition demanding job placements was handed over two weeks ago in the capital.
“We think the interviews are a gimmick to the masses who travelled long distances in the hope of securing employment. The situation has also made the graduates more vigilant. We have noted many school principals are cognisant of the situation on the ground, and now they have become a syndicate of employing teachers based on favouritism and nepotism,” the graduates claim.
“In addition, we are slamming the recruitment process in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, because some regions conduct interviews, while others are exempted from conducting interviews.
“As a result, we feel that fairness is not exercised in the ministry … The interview process has made us slaves of commuting every day from one place to another, which is gradually pulling us into extreme poverty,” the graduates say.
Vistorina Werner, one of the graduate teachers, says she went for an interview at Ndapona ya Shikende Primary School, hoping ot secure employment.
She says the position is, however, already filled and the school’s management is using the interviewing process as a front.
“We refuse to be interviewed for a post that is already reserved for someone else … We spend so much money to travel to schools for interviews, but we do not get selected for posts. Why?” Werner asks.
Isack Hamatwi, the director of education for the Ohangwena region, was not reachable for comment.
Saima Shaanika, the personal assistant of prime minister Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, in a letter dated 28 January addressed to the unemployed teachers, which The Namibian has seen, said the prime minister is holding consultations with key stakeholders on the matter and feedback would be provided soon.
Scores of unemployed graduate teachers, who are struggling to secure employment, took to the streets of Windhoek on 19 January protesting their plight.
The petition detailing their demands was handed over to the Office of the Prime Minister.
