WINDHOEK– The Education Management Information System (EMIS) statistics for 2012 indicate that Namibia has about 24 660 teachers of whom 1 208 are without teacher training and about 3 000 are underqualified.
The same report shows Kavango East and Kavango West being the most affected with 2 876 teachers of whom 210 are unqualified and 104 underqualified.
According to the latest United National Scientific Education and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Institute for Statistics projections on the demand for primary teachers to reach universal primary education by 2015, nearly 4 000 (3 882) new primary school teachers need to be recruited in Namibia which is approximately 30 percent of the 2010 teaching force.
UNESCO feels that addressing the shortage of qualified teachers requires a multi-pronged approach where teacher education institutions play a critical role in preparing teachers through both pre-service and in-service training.
The UNESCO Institute for Statistics says at least two million new teaching positions are needed worldwide to ensure universal primary education by 2015.
Speaking at the World Teachers’ Day commemoration over the weekend, Dr David Namwandi, the Minister of Education said the teacher deficit is seen as one of the main obstacles to reaching the internationally-agreed Education For All (EFA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Namibia as part of the global village also has an acute teacher shortage.
Namwandi revealed that for the 2014 academic year his ministry has advertised 2 227 teaching vacancies and these positions are currently filled by under- and unqualified teachers and professionally unqualified personnel.
“This is a concern to all. Namibia needs more teachers. Namibia needs better teachers. And Namibia needs teachers who optimally deliver at all times. The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers,” Namwandi stressed.
Projecting the levels of staffing reported by EMIS for 2012, 27 594 teachers would be needed in 2015, that is 2 933 more teaching posts than in 2012.
In 2012, Namibia had 498 combined schools out of a total of 1 723 schools. No distinction is made in this regard between state and private schools.
Of the 617 827 learners in Namibia, 37 339 were in private schools in 2012.
In 2012 there were 617 827 learners in the Namibian school system, 17 572 at pre-primary level, 415 454 at primary level and 182 945 at secondary level.
In an attempt to rectify the dire situation, UNESCO developed a Teachers Strategy 2012-2015′ that focuses on developing capacity for training and building a high-quality teaching force in those countries most hampered by the lack of teachers, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
UNESCO’s top priorities are to address teachers’ challenges that include advocating for teachers and even defending their rights, teachers’ training, their recruitment, retention, status and working conditions.
Namwandi said this year’s commemoration under the theme, “A call for teachers”, focuses on UNESCO’s working towards quality teachers for global citizenship and cultural diversity.
Despite the teacher deficit, Namwandi said, Namibia remains committed to improve the status of teachers in the country.
One such measure he mentioned is the introduction of a “bush allowance” as an incentive to recruit and retain teachers in remote rural areas.
He also said that his ministry through the Office of the Prime Minister reviewed the salaries of teachers through a job evaluation and grading system.
The ministry also established the continuous professional development unit aimed to improve the skills and knowledge of practising teachers.
“Education is the key to everything. It is the key to peace and democratic stability. It is the key to jobs and economic growth. It is the key to good health. It is the key to respect and harmony between different genders, faiths, ethnic groups and communities. It is also the key to billions of unique human beings fulfilling their unique potential,” the education minister said.
While applauding Namibian teachers and those across the globe for their selfless, continuous and dedicated service, Namwandi urged learners to show respect, appreciation and gratitude towards their educators.
By Albertina Nakale