‘Rich’ parents should pay teachers

A SWAPO MP wants Government to stop paying salaries to teachers at private schools and instead use the money to improve the salaries of teachers at State schools.

Kilus Nguvauva argued that most private schools in Namibia cater for the children of affluent parents and should therefore pay their own teachers’ salaries. Nguvauva, who is also the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, made these remarks during debate on the second reading of the Vocational Education and Training Bill in the National Council yesterday.”The saving made by the Ministry of Education can then be utilised to subsidise the salaries of our best qualified and most experienced teachers in Government,” said Nguvauva.He said the quality of education in State schools was threatened by the loss of the best-qualified and most experienced teachers to private schools.However, Nguvauva said State assistance to smaller private schools such as many rural Catholic farm schools – which are providing education at affordable prices to children from marginalised communities – was understandable.He said in a free-market economy like Namibia, wealthy parents have the right to establish private schools.”However, this should not be done at the expense of State schools,” he said.The Vocational Education and Training Bill was passed in the National Council with amendments.Nguvauva, who is also the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, made these remarks during debate on the second reading of the Vocational Education and Training Bill in the National Council yesterday.”The saving made by the Ministry of Education can then be utilised to subsidise the salaries of our best qualified and most experienced teachers in Government,” said Nguvauva.He said the quality of education in State schools was threatened by the loss of the best-qualified and most experienced teachers to private schools.However, Nguvauva said State assistance to smaller private schools such as many rural Catholic farm schools – which are providing education at affordable prices to children from marginalised communities – was understandable.He said in a free-market economy like Namibia, wealthy parents have the right to establish private schools.”However, this should not be done at the expense of State schools,” he said.The Vocational Education and Training Bill was passed in the National Council with amendments.