By John Ekongo
WINDHOEK
Lecturers at the four colleges of education in the country yesterday started an indefinite class boycott over unresolved salary issues with their employer – the Government through the Ministry of Education.
In Windhoek, the academic personnel at the Windhoek College of Education were picketing at the college main gate as from 09h00.
Despite the uncertain legal status of the industrial action, the trainers maintained that they would not perform any official duties until the Government meets their demands.
“We now give Government a free hand to decide as to whether they want to engage us in earnest or whether they still want to dilly-dally with us,” read Liswani Simasiku, spokesperson of the group, from a statement.
The lecturers are demanding a salary increase backdated to November last year, alongside a draft salary proposal handed to the Government Negotiating Team (GNT).
The trainers’ demands are that an ordinary lecturer without a Masters degree, but possessing an appropriate three-year degree plus a teaching qualification with at least five years experience, be given N$160?