WALVIS BAY – The future of teachers at four private schools in Erongo region are hanging in the balance as government is set to cease funding to the schools.

Government aids the schools, Walvis Bay Laerskool, Duneside High School, Walvis Bay Private School and Karibib Private school by paying most teachers including support staff at these schools.

Some of the schools also receives upkeep fees from government. Close to 60 teachers are said to be affected by the latest development. The four schools are the only private institutions in Namibia still receiving government support for teacher salaries, a holdover from arrangements made after Walvis Bay’s reintegration to ease the transition. 

Initially, the aid was intended for just a month to help teachers decide whether to return to South Africa or join the Namibian system at a lower salary. Over the years, support continued informally, but under the new Education Act, all private schools must re-register, and future funding will depend on the schools’ boards’ recommendations and discretion of the ministry.

The future

Discussions took place on Thursday with affected teachers at Duneside whereby the Erongo education director, Erenfriede Stephanus discussed options available to teachers.

“Those who opt to stay in Government employment will be transferred to state schools in Walvis Bay, or to other towns if posts are not available locally,” a letter from Stephanus reads. 

She also explained that those opting to transfer to other state school will not require interviews.

In the letter she also explained that teachers may choose early retirement or resign and remain at their current schools without government benefits.

“The ministry will support whatever decision each teacher makes, but we need those decisions before the end of December,” she said.

Not defunding

Minister of education Sanet Steenkamp, speaking to New Era on Friday said the move should not be viewed as abrupt defunding but as part of a structured review that began years ago.

“This is not about defunding. All private schools must re-register and comply with the Education Act. Many have not met the legal conditions, including having fully functional school boards and submitting proper accountability reports,” Steenkamp told New Era.

She added that the government had already stopped extending funding to new private schools in 2017. 

“A moratorium on funding private schools has been in place since 2017 because of the unequal and huge inequity that the funding formula advanced against our state schools,” she explained.

New Era also understands that some of the private schools despite receiving funding from the government do not provide financial reports to the ministry.

The Education act however stipulates that in order for a school to benefit state funding they must, submit financial and audit reports, and follow the national curriculum.

Confirming the issue Steenkamp said that, many of the private schools have not been forthcoming with the financial statements, accountability reports and the audit reports.

“You cannot provide funding and are not informed how it was used… and it was just the right thing to do to cease funding. 

We have looked at all the genuine and unintended consequences of this decision, but in the end, it remains the right decision to do,” she said.

Steenkamp also explained that teachers now have full freedom to decide their future and to either transfer or stay at their current schools.

Meanwhile at letter by Walvis Bay Private School in October (WBPS) in a circular indicated that they complied with all requirements under the act.

“We are also exploring ways to gradually phase out reliance on state-paid teachers, including taking over those who wish to remain with WBPS,” the school said.

The school earlier, took the government to court over the re-registration demand, which it said violated its rights under the Basic Education Act of 2020. An interim agreement was then reached in October under which the school will appoint an interim board, submit audited financial statements, and have its registration finalised by March next year, with state funding for teachers continuing until 30 January 2026.

Teachers and support staff at the affected schools said that they are facing a financial crisis if they do not find employment at government schools and will be forced to move out of town.

“We are in a predicament if we chose to stay at our current schools, we will lose our medical aid, housing subsidies. Many of us have spouses working here and children attending local schools,” a concerned teacher said on Friday.

edeklerk@nepc.com.na

Photo: Heather Erdmann