2013-11-15Staff Report 2 By Simataa Silume THE author refers to the contributions teachers make towards their efforts of building nations. It all starts from the trust with which all societies the world over accords them. It is a profession that calls for annual examinations of all those engaged with the task of educating the entire world. They need to rebrand and win the status they deserve on a daily basis. The rebranding activities are quite intense in nations where education is results-based. It is the sector christened the ‘darling of all.’ All those who have the ability to draw a breath can define their professionalism. These professionals boast a zero source of motivation. Their only source of motivation comes from clamors such as ‘teacher’, ‘mitiri’, ‘muluti’, ‘omulongi’ invoked by comrades at gatherings such as churches, bars, friendship circles and all those other forms of congregations. The motivational skills of their mentors carry a potency that pains teachers to eternity. Being a nation bound on examination results, the national ‘taste’ turns bitter if the pass rate takes a nosedive. Parents find it easy to trust teachers with their young ones. They can even avoid visiting the schools that address the literacy and numeracy issues of their young ones. It is the mess teachers should wipe out without a ‘grumble.’ The author understands the status quo. It is a profession of self-sacrificing. This is how it is registered in the mental register of both those in the civilizing and civilized worlds. Teachers need to work overtime and reclaim the daily pedigree all living beings accord them. It is indeed a trophy they cannot afford to lose. The learners of the nation cannot be left to fend for themselves, lest they die of severe ‘academic starvation.’ The Namibian child cannot be exposed to the dangers posed by ignorance. Surely parents would find it difficult to pardon the Namibian teachers if they were to give way. Teachers are the armed forces enlisted to fight illiteracy. The last line of defence against ignorance cannot falter. Schools are the main suppliers of the irreplaceable human resource to all sectors. Indeed there is no occasion that should be allowed to delay the supply of indispensable skills to all different sectors of all our societies. Indeed, teachers should be ready to defend the nation from any attack inflicted by ignorance. They need to fall into teams that would replace the splinter groups that threaten the spirit of teamwork in schools. They need to crash the boundaries impeding them from working as a band. Teachers need to uphold the very spirit that saw the ‘heroes’ of our nation subdue the enemy and emerge victorious. They are to advocate for an attitude that transcends tribal and racial boundaries. It is the duty of teachers to consolidate themselves on the basis of national unity. They need to embrace the spirit of the party in charge of all activities. The author refers to the party that managed to rally all behind the goal of attaining the dream of independence. Praises be to the founders of this political home. It is a home where we all need to find rest and freedom. The author breathed and ate this political entity during his days of growing up in the District of Kabbe. He was accorded care to this day when he can rally colleagues to the rivers of milk and honey flowing from this political fountain. Yes, teachers need to rally behind the vision of the whole nation. They are to triple their efforts and put a smile on the faces of all Namibians. A call is hereby sounded to all teachers to crash those walls barring them proper communication with other members of the Namibian community. Teachers need to ferment into a force to be reckoned with. The fight of freeing the nation from the bondage of illiteracy calls for utter commitment. It is commitment to eternity. It is forward ever, backward never! The gulf developing between school managers and the teaching staff is an unfortunate eventuality. It has to be smothered in its infancy. School managers and the teaching staff should work with each other, as opposed to working against each other. They are teammates in the fight against ignorance. The nation can only benefit from the cohesion that defines their close ties. Teachers need to pay homage to those in authority. They need to outgrow the petty political duels carried out in those staffrooms. The teaching profession leaves zero room for nonchalant and lackadaisical personalities. It is an industry where pleasure and business do not blend. The activities of teachers should not compromise the interests of learners and those of the nation at large. The business of all teachers in the school set up should be aligned with the learning interests of the learners they teach. They should subject all personal wishes to the wishes of the entire school. They should accept to be rallied behind the vision of the school. They should be ready to engage activities outside their job description. Organizational citizenry shall see them receive blessings from the worlds above. Teachers need to recognize the pressure with which principals carry out their administrative activities. These fellow compatriots are under pressure to deliver. Their competency depends on whether or not the schools they lead attain competitive pass rates. The expectation from their bosses does not take the social and economic backgrounds of the learners they take into consideration. Those learners are expected to overcome their academic challenges no matter what. Teachers need to offer principals collaboration without fail. The nation has the fast approaching Vision 2030 and this national dream is indeed looming large. Teachers need to transform underperforming schools into effective ones. They need to turn these academic institutions into centers where every child can learn. It is their innovation that would place extra pressure on principals to garner for the much needed resources. Teachers should be the epitome of moral uprightness. Their dress code should not be subjected to any discussion that would seek to define its meaning. The dress code should represent the image the nation has about a teacher. Teachers need to wake up every morning motivated and geared up for the classroom. They should be able to sing praises to the vision of their school from dawn to dusk. They should wear the outfit and logo of their school without shame. They need to prepare for each and every single lesson. Lesson preparation instills confidence in the presenter and leaves them pumped up and beaming with zeal to engage the topic of the day. They shall hit the ground running as they rush for their very first lesson of the day. Teachers should be ready to soldier on, for the fight against ignorance is relentless. An ignorant nation is a colonized nation. Citizens can only be free if they can read and write. They can only unlock doors to economic and social independence using the education key alone. Indeed teachers need to sweat it out for the benefit of the entire nation. They need to carry the cross of education to ‘calvary’ for the sake of liberating the nation from the shame of illiteracy. Teachers should know that the Education Minister needs to be impressed. He is indeed concerned about the future literacy status of the entire Namibian nation. Teachers need to avail their services to their energetic minister. They need to open up to their master and say: Here I am Comrade Namwandi. My skills are at your mercy. Send me now and send me wherever the nation needs my skills and services. I am ready to storm the thick thickets and the wetlands of the Zambezi Region without fear. The woodlands of the Okavango and Omusati shall never be deterrent. The valleys and mountains of the Khomas I shall descend and ascend as if they were no more. The thirsty and dry lands of the Namib Desert I shall confront with immeasurable zeal. I shall carry the message of literacy and numeracy without fail. Indeed teaching is self-sacrificing • Simataa Silume is an English teacher at Ella du Plessis High School in Windhoek. 2013-11-15Staff Report 2
