Most young people, including university graduates, are often reluctant to join the public service due to the belief that it does not pay well. But Fourie Nhoni- Shuuya advises the youth that there is more to public service jobs than money. 

Nhoni-Shuuya urges the youth to pursue careers in government, as it is the one sector that provides a sense of financial and job security. It is also honourable to serve the general public. 

“The government as an employer promotes people, and affords them opportunities for growth via scholarships and bursaries” she said. 

Nhoni-Shuuya is an administrative officer in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture stationed at Westmont High School in Windhoek. 

She is responsible for an array of work that includes filing, answering phone calls, emailing and maintaining records, while always maintaining a sense of professionalism and a polite disposition. 

She is also tasked with school finances, and providing reports to auditors. 

Her role at the school is more similar to that of a liaison officer, as she is also responsible for handling communication between the school and all relevant stakeholders which include parents, the community and the ministry. 

Nhoni-Shuuya, who was born in the Omusati region, studied journalism and communication at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST). She also has a degree in secondary education from the University of Namibia (Unam). 

Why public service? 

Nhoni-Shuuya, a mother and wife, joined the public service in 2016 after being employed as a casual worker in the retail sector, where she worked for two years. 

She maintains that she always wanted to work in government. 

“I have always admired all service-orientated men and women, and I have always appreciated and admired those who serve their country,” she noted. 

She added that the public service offers a convenient w o r k 

environment, and benefits including market-related salaries, pension and medical aid, amongst other benefits. 

Nhoni-Shuuya said she joined public service at a time when she just graduated and needed a job to support herself and her toddler. 

As a journalism graduate, she admits it is her dream to find work in the media sector, especially to work for the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. 

However, this is not to say she not enjoying her administrative work. 

“What is most satisfying about my job is the stability. All I need is to give my best, meet the expectations of my employers, and further develop myself,” she beamed. 

Challenges 

“Every job comes with its fair share of challenges, and it is our abilities to rise above them that defines our level of perseverance, continued Nhoni. 

She pointed out the financial parts of the job, being the bookkeeping part and statistics recording. “The load I am exposed to daily has taught me endurance, and I am not afraid of excessive work. 

Queried as to how beneficial her expertise is to the public service - especially her school and ministry - she had this to say: “My expertise is valuable to the ministry because there is transparency in the handling of government funds. And also, with my communications background and customer service experience, I know how to handle people from all walks of life, which uplifts the school”. 

Despite the infamous public misconception that government employees are unproductive and sluggish, Nhoni-Shuuya was quick to disagree and labelled it as a “negative connotation far from the truth. I totally disagree with that sentiment because that’s a generalisation that cannot be linked to all. Personal attributes and strengths differ from one individual to another. I might not be proactive in all areas of my work, but I learn as I go,” she reasoned. 

Her future 

“I have been serving for six years, and I am open-minded to work when and if something appealing comes my way I will grab the opportunity with both hands. There are endless opportunities out there. 

“I would like to work in my field of study, which is journalism or communication, perhaps for the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology as an information officer because I know I will work with a passion and be great at it. Also, I would like to make more business investments and just live better,” Nhoni-Shuuya said.