By Staff Reporter
WINDHOEK
As Namibian teachers join others to celebrate World Teachers’ Day, the Teachers’ Union of Namibia (TUN) has demanded that Government removes discrepancies between salaries of principals of secondary and primary schools.
The teachers’ body said at a press conference yesterday principals of primary schools were being discrimina-ted against as they earn less than their counterparts in secondary schools.
“It is a shame to notice that heads of departments of secon-dary schools are earning exactly the same salary as primary school principals. This is in itself a degrading situation to principals concerned,” said TUN president, Chanville Mackrill, yesterday.
He demanded that the Government rectifies the situation because the job description levels were different. The press conference was called to address the issue of salaries of headmasters of secondary and primary schools, housing, ser-vice conditions in some regions, the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre and women and children.
TUN also expressed concern about the lack of implementation of the agreement, which allows married persons to participate separately despite the conditions of their marriages and the changes in conditions of service of certain regions. The agreement was signed in March 2005.
Mackrill said his union was informed of certain regions that forced teachers to introduce own working hours, which extend way beyond normal working hours.
“The regions need to abide by the law and should they unilaterally change working hours, they need to adjust the salaries of those teachers concerned because it is related to other service conditions,” he said.
The union also joined the rest of the world in condemning acts of violence against women and children. Mackrill said young children suffered under the brutal and immoral acts of adults that should not be allowed in society.
World Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on October 5, an occasion that takes stock of the challenges and considers what action is needed in order to achieve high quality teaching and learning for all.
Educational International has identified six key demands, namely a decent working environment, a living wage, equal pay and equal rights for women, initial and outgoing professional development, involvement in policy making and collective bargaining to defend and enhance teachers’ rights.
A joint statement of UNESCO, Educational International, UNDP, UNICEF and ILO said there was lack of qualified teachers, which had a negative impact on the future of children and the development of societies.
“The growing shortage of qualified teachers is the main challenge to the realisation of these goals (EFA and MDGs),” said the statement issued yesterday.
UNESCO estimates four million teachers in Africa alone will be needed by 2015.
Although one of the challenges is the number of teachers, the organisations said the quality of teachers and teaching was essential to good learning outcomes. Many teachers have left the profession due to loss in status, low salaries, poor teaching and learning conditions, and lack of career progression.
The main event celebrating teachers day will be held today at Tsandi Sports Stadium in Omusati Region where the Namibia National Teachers’ Union president, Simeon Kavila, and Minister of Education, Nangolo Mbumba, will officiate.
This year’s celebration is under the theme: “Better working conditions for teachers means better learning conditions for learners”.