KEETMANSHOOP – On a quiet morning in Keetmanshoop, Priscila Tjiroze sits in her office at the //Kharas education directorate, reflecting on a career that spans more than three decades. 

Known as PJ to colleagues and students alike, Tjiroze is a veteran educator whose story is one of passion, resilience, and dedication to shaping young minds.

From a young teacher in Tallismanus to a deputy director shaping lifelong learning and culture across //Kharas, Priscila Tjiroze’s journey is a testament to dedication, resilience, and unwavering passion. 

Her story reminds us that teaching is not just a career, it is a vocation, a commitment, and a calling to shape Namibia’s future.

Educator at heart

It all began in 1992 in Tallismanus, a small town in the Omaheke region, where Tjiroze first discovered her calling. 

“My love for children and the need to educate them led me to teaching,” she recalls. 

“Even then, I knew education was not just a job, it was a responsibility, a commitment, a passion.”

Starting her career teaching Economics and Business Economics to standard 6 and 7 learners, Tjiroze’s dedication was evident. She steadily rose through the ranks, taking on leadership roles that included Adult Education Officer in Gobabis, Senior Education Officer at the Khomas education directorate, Chief Education Officer in Hardap, and finally, Deputy Director: Lifelong Learning, Arts and Culture at the //Kharas directorate.

Her academic journey mirrors her professional rise. Tjiroze began at Lester Primary School in Otjimbindwe, earned her Standard 10 certificate at Augustineum Secondary School in Windhoek, and later completed a Bachelor’s degree in Adult Education at the University of Namibia (Unam). 

Yet the path was far from smooth.

“Before Independence, my political beliefs created obstacles,” she said. 

According to her, supporting the Swapo Party during the apartheid era led to suspensions for both her as a learner and as a teacher. She even resigned while teaching in Opuwo after another suspension. 

“Those moments tested me, but they never shook my convictions,” she added.

Her early professional years were spent teaching on a relief basis in Tallismanus and Opuwo, but her commitment to adult education and further study at Unam helped propel her into higher positions. 

“I studied part-time in adult education while balancing family responsibilities,” she recalled. 

“It was challenging, but perseverance and passion drove me forward.”

Passion, challenges, and future vision

For Tjiroze, teaching is far more than a salary. “It is a calling and passion,” she explains. 

“Teachers must enjoy their work, have patience, and empathise with children. Without educators providing a foundation, society would lack the technocrats, academics, and professionals shaping our country today.”

Yet she is candid about modern challenges in the education sector. 

Comparing teachers of the past with today, Tjiroze noted, “Teachers used to be highly respected and exemplary figures. Today, some behaviours are disheartening, such as visiting bars or getting romantically involved with learners.”

The abolishment of corporal punishment, she says, has had mixed effects. “It was good because we live in a democratic society, but respect levels among learners have dropped in some cases. 

Some learners now take advantage of the fact that teachers cannot physically discipline them, leading to confrontations.

Current roles

In her current role, Tjiroze oversees adult literacy programs and promotes arts and culture in schools, covering music, drama, debates, drawings, and traditional values. 

“It worries me that some learners are forgetting their cultural heritage, even refusing to speak their mother tongue,” she observed. 

Through her division, she creates interventions to preserve Namibia’s rich cultural history, ensuring that arts and traditions remain alive in classrooms.

Tjiroze is also deeply committed to mentoring aspiring teachers. 

“Entering this career requires passion, perseverance, patience, and love for learners from diverse backgrounds,” she said. 

“If you possess these qualities, you can succeed and make a meaningful impact.”

Her message extends beyond the classroom. 

“All stakeholders in the education sector must work together instead of blaming one another when challenges arise. Collaboration is the only way to find solutions that benefit learners and communities,” she urged.

-sklukowski@nepc.com.na