The national chairperson of the unemployed qualified teachers, Joyce Liswaniso, has expressed mixed feelings about the government’s decision to fill approximately 660 teaching posts.
The government has announced plans to recruit over 2 000 unemployed teachers and nurses, allocating N$151 million for 665 teachers and N$185 million for 1 537 health professionals. The plan was revealed by the Minister of Finance in Parliament on 21 October while presenting the 2025/26 mid-year budget review. “I appreciate what the government did, but there are still a lot of unemployed teachers. The 665 posts are nothing compared to the number of qualified teachers who are unemployed and waiting for opportunities,”
Liswaniso said in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday. She expressed appreciation to the government but stressed that the number of teaching posts remains insufficient. There are reportedly close to 15 000 unemployed educators across Namibia.
Liswaniso, who has led several demonstrations calling for reforms in teacher recruitment systems and the mass employment of teachers, said she hopes that with better planning and commitment, the government will continue creating more opportunities for unemployed educators. She emphasised that education must remain a national priority. She noted that that many unemployed teachers have been negatively affected by prolonged joblessness, which has created multiple social and psychological challenges.
“It has really affected a lot of people. Long-term unemployment has deeply impacted many teachers. Some are struggling to provide for their families, while others are facing emotional and mental challenges due to hopelessness and frustration,” she said. Liswaniso appealed to the government to consider introducing support programmes, business grants, or counselling services for unemployed teachers, saying they are enduring severe hardship.
She concluded by advising her fellow teachers to keep themselves busy in productive ways to sustain their livelihoods and avoid becoming idle at home. -Nampa