Lahja Nashuuta

Teaching is a challenging, tough, yet rewarding career that is not for everybody. 

As the adage goes, teachers are born, not made, and it all comes down to passion. 

This is according to Charlie Somseb, an English and Khoekhoegowab teacher at Groot Aub Primary School.

He strongly believes that commitment, perseverance and dedication are the core concepts of success, especially in schools dominated by children from vulnerable backgrounds. 

Groot Aub Primary School is situated some 60km south of Windhoek, in the Windhoek Rural constituency. 

It has with about 1 300 learners, mostly from vulnerable backgrounds. 

”I am proud that I have mostly worked with orphans and children from vulnerable backgrounds over the past 11 years of teaching and most of these learners who went through my hands completed school,” Somseb fondly said.

Born in Khorixas in the Kunene region, he grew up in Outjo, and joined the public service in 2010 as an unqualified educator in Khorixas at Welwitchia Primary  School. 

He was on an annual contractual basis,  and before that,  he worked as a waiter at Spur and Napolitana restaurant in Swakopmund . 

He attended primary school at Otjikondo, some 80km from Outjo, and would complete his secondary education at Swakopmund Secondary School.

“While I was teaching on contract as a temporary teacher, I grew fond of working with children. My passion for teaching developed uncontrollably, and that’s when I knew I was called to serve in the public service as an educator,” he said.

Somseb currently holds a degree in education from the University of Namibia and a Master's in English and Applied Linguistics from Namibia University of Science and Technology. 

“I am very knowledgeable in languages. In addition to the above-mentioned qualifications, I am diversely knowledgeable in education-related matters, and I use it as my strength in the teaching space within the public service,” he said. 

Besides that, Somseb was also trained by the young African leadership (YALI) and the Trevor Noah Foundation in South Africa on Educational Management and how to be a change maker in education.

Why government?

After completing his tertiary education, like anybody else, “my dream was to get a job in the area of my expertise. 

“Of course, teaching jobs were also available in the private sector, however, the government had a huge market for newly graduated teachers and the reward was attractive in comparison to the private sector,” Somseb said.

He further saw this move as an opportunity to plough back, since it was the government that created a conducive environment for those in his generation to further their studies.

“I love working for the government, especially at the school level, because I get to enjoy my holidays. This gives me time to also engage in other opportunities for myself,” he stated. 

Asked about the most challenging aspect of his work, Somseb pointed to lack of parental involvement in their children’s academic life. 

“Education is like a three-legged pot which comprises the teachers, learners and parents. It makes it difficult for the pot to stand and cook the meal properly if one leg is broken,”  he lamented. 

On a positive note, Somseb was quick to point out that the most satisfying aspect of his job is his ability to “ensure the impartation of knowledge, and to know that learners meet the basic competencies as well as  the general and specific objectives at the end of each lesson, and also to have the power to mould and shape the future of young children is indeed very satisfying.”

When asked to comment on the ‘salary collectors’ tag that has been apportioned to most government employees, he debunked the statement, labelling it “false”. 

“I totally disagree with the sentiment that people like us that work for the government are unproductive and inefficient. However, I believe that people only publicise such sentiments based on the experiences they had with public servants in other ministries, and not necessarily from us as teachers. We do get constructive criticism and destructive criticism on a daily basis, but we try to be better every day,” he said.

Permanent 

Queried about how long he is planning to serve in the public service, Somseb did not mince his words when he stated that he harbours no plans to leave anytime soon.

“I plan to serve in the public service for a long time. However, I am aspiring to also grow in the profession, for example to be a school principal, inspector of education or regional director of education one day,” the ambitious teacher said with a chuckle. 

As a parting shot, he maintained that he aspires professional growth, and owning a tertiary education institution one day. 

This, he said, will enable him to groom future teachers and create employment opportunities.

“Currently, I am also a part-time lecturer for Khoekhoegowab at the Namibia College of Open Learning and Sunshine Private College. So, growing in that field or using the skills and expertise within the public service is also an individual aspiration,” Somseb said.

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