Lahja Nashuuta

MANY of us can attest to the fact that because of the hustles and tussles of life, we do not spend as much time with our children as we would love to.

But thanks to our educational systems, we now have willing, capable, and trained keepers employed to help mould our children into formidable adults while we are toiling at our respective workplaces.

One such person is Leiden Charles Petrus Muonde, a veteran public servant and one of the hardworking teachers in the public school system.

Muonde works at Tsintsabis Combined School. Beside teaching, he also serves in the school management committee and as
hostel superintendent.

Tsintsabis Combined School is situated about 80km east of
Oshivelo and 62km north of
Tsumeb, and has an enrolment of 800 children, mostly from the San community.

The school has classes from pre-grade to Grade 9 and it is the only school that offers Khoekhoegowab,
a language well-understood by the
San community.

 Muonde, a teacher with 14 years’ experience described himself as a devoted civil servant committed to imparting knowledge to the younger generation at the grassroot level.

His expertise and experience as a teacher has helped him to study and understand the minds of children, especially the Grade ones, to enable him to guide them and ensure they get the proper foundation for their education journey. “I make sure they are groomed and able to sail smoothly throughout the primary and second level of their education,” she said.

Before that Muonde worked as a teacher at the School of the Hearing, a career he grabbed by chance and mastered it.

“I had no formal sign language training but learnt it on the job. I taught history and ICT in sign language to Grades seven, eight, nine, and 10. I moved on to Hage Geingob High School to focus on mainstream education,” Muonde revealed.

Currently, Muonde teaches history and geography. He is also the head of social sciences, history, and geography and therefore serves in the school management committee. 

“I am also the LRC guardian teacher, school board secretary, and head of discipline-related sub- committees. I am the superintendent of the school hostel,” he said. Asked why he opted to serve in public service, Muonde said being a teacher has its perks such as ample holidays which allow for one to explore other interests.

“After completing my 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 new graduate teachers and the reward was more attractive than in the private sector,” he said.

Humble beginnings

Born on 16 June 1988, Muonde describes himself as a very productive servant and an asset of the public service, especially the education ministry.

Muonde attended Nomtsoub Primary and Etosha Secondary Schools and enrolled for an education programme at the former Windhoek College of Education now the Khomasdal UNAM campus.

“I was a student before joining Basic Education, I have no prior work experience in any other industry. All I know is education,” said Muonde when asked what his previous job was.

There is no occupation without challenges and for Muonde the biggest challenge is the perception people have of civil servants. 

“There are people who believe we took this job because we had no choice, but I actually had a choice and chose this profession,” he said.

Asked about some of his work-related achievements, Muonde said: “Having seen some of my former learners complete school and become doctors and teachers. An example of such a pupil is Dr Melka Nekongo and many others. Also, satisfying is to see a smile on the face of the marginalised San children when I help with a difficult situation”.

Probed how his expertise contributed to the growth of the education sector, Muonde said “The whole ministry is focused on the Namibian child. We serve the primary purpose of the ministry of Basic Education which is the pupil. No learner, no schools, no school, no inspector of education or director, no minister. My physical presence in a school is crucial because these children need interactive care”.

Muonde plans to reach retirement while still serving the education ministry but hopefully after getting promotion in the hierarchy and or structure. 

-lnashuuta@gmail.com