Lahja Nashuuta

In the heart of every public servant is the desire to improve the lives of those you serve. Make no mistake about it, not everyone employed in public service is a public servant. However, for Tshangano David, serving in public comes as a calling.

He is a teacher at the over-populated Ruben Makanga Combined School at Rundu’s Sauyemwa informal settlement.

 “It was my dream to become a teacher, as I am passionate about teaching. I decided to join the public service because I am passionate about making a meaningful impact in my community,” he said.

According to him, the public service offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the greater good and address societal challenges directly.

“While it wasn’t always my specific dream to work for the government, my career aspirations have always been centered around helping others and creating positive change. Over time, I realised that the public sector aligns perfectly with my values and goals, providing a platform to serve the public effectively and make a difference in people’s lives,” he said.

David, who graduated from the University of Namibia (Unam), with a Bachelor of Education (Honours) degree, described himself as a very enthusiastic, innovative and hardworking citizen with the best interest of quality education for pupils at heart.

“Growing up in a harsh environment deep in the Mbeyo village of Kavango East region, the help of my mentor and uncle, Edward Likuwa made me develop the quality skills and be a very proud independent individual with a great reputation at my workplace and in my community,” he said.

Joining 

David is newcomer to the public service, he got his first job in April 2021. Before his appointment as a teacher, he used to volunteer at Red Cross Namibia to distribute drought relief food.

According to David, teaching is more than delivering lessons, it also involves classroom management.

“I help create a safe and conducive learning environment for both teaching and learning and maintain discipline as it has become one of the biggest challenges schools are facing,” he said.

David further said: “I use my spare time to coach my pupils for debate and sometimes take them to other schools for friendly matches as well as prepare them for national competitions,” he said.

Besides that, David is also the head of sports at the school. 

“I and other teachers train pupils in soccer and organise matches with sister schools to help foster strong relationships with the community,” he revealed.

Challenges

Teaching at a school with the highest number of pupils in the circuit of 2 500 learners comes with a lot of challenges. According to David, the overcrowded classrooms make teaching difficult and unhealthy. 

He also points out that lack of proper teaching and learning materials to carry out experiments and implement technology in classrooms as one of the major challenges facing the school.

There is also shortage of water supplied by the town council and his region is not immune to poverty.

“Some learners don’t have proper school uniforms, and some come to school hungry,” he said.

Asked what he found satisfying about his job, David said, “Being a teacher can be incredibly satisfying, despite the challenges and opportunities accorded to him to make a difference.

“As a teacher I have the unique opportunity to shape the lives of the pupils, especially knowing that I have a positive impact on someone’s future can be deeply fulfilling,” he said.

He further points out that building relationships and watching learners grow academically, socially, and emotionally is one of the most rewarding aspects of teaching. 

“I am celebrating their milestones and achievements and bringing a sense of accomplishment,” he said.

David maintained that teaching at a school like Ruben Makaranga Combined School, with a shortage of proper teaching and learning materials, allows one to be creative and innovative in lesson planning and delivery. Teachers can use their creativity to make learning engaging and fun, which can be very satisfying.

“My first-hand experience in the classroom provides valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t in education. This can inform the development of effective educational policies and programmes that address the real needs of the learners and teachers,” he said.

Accomplishment

David was awarded the best performing teacher with a 93% pass rate in Natural Science for Grade six in 2023, first position in netball 2024 and third position in football in 2024.

Besides that, he was also elected as teachers’ union representative in 2024 and school board member.

 “We managed to send a learner to the Sixth Session of the Children’s Parliament from our school through the debate club. 

David is not planning to leave the government anytime soon, however he wishes to see the government continue investing more money in the education sector as it is the foundation on which a country can be built and developed.

-lnashuuta@gmail.com