RUNDU – Hundreds of unemployed teachers in the Kavango East Region marched through the streets of Rundu on Thursday, highlighting their enduring demands regarding their unemployment.
The unemployed educators are demanding the education ministry abolishes interviews, asserting they do more harm than good in the education system.
“Interviews are tainted with corrupt practices through nepotism and bribery, compromising the end goal, which is to recruit a suitable candidate,” said David Nekaro, national chairperson of the Unemployed Teachers Committee.
Nekaro spoke on behalf of the educators, whose procession moved from the Dr Romanus Kampungu Sports Stadium through the central business district to the Directorate of Education offices, where they presented their petition.
Nekaro charged that currently, teachers in schools are handling two or three times the expected number of students, while 60% to 80% of schools in the country are understaffed.
He also criticised the lack of proper regulation in higher learning institutions, citing their failure to meet the country’s economic demands.
The collective demand for unemployed teachers includes a call for widespread teacher recruitment across the nation and a plea for the education ministry to construct additional schools throughout the country during the 2024/25 financial year.
He said if their demands are not met within seven working days, they intend to set up camp on the directorate’s
premises.
Nekaro explained that despite engaging officials from the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture at regional and national levels, no satisfactory response had been received.
According to Nekaro, the number of unemployed teachers nationwide has reached 8 251, and this figure is expected to rise upon the graduation of current final-year students. -Nampa