Education Minister risks throwing teachers under the moving bus!

SHITEFA SHA MVULA WRITES:Allow me to express my views about the basic education issues of concern.It has been a while without hearing from the Honourable Minister of Basic Education, Arts and Culture, Ester Anna Nghipondoka. Whether it was out of choice or it was due to some busy schedule, it could be none of our business. We have been hearing from her Deputy, Sanet Steenkamp. She has been helping us to cope with our difficulties of learning and teaching. As this is a year of expectations as declared by late Dr. Hage G Geingob (RIP!), this may not seem surprising as we march on.As a veteran teacher, I got disturbed by the reported remarks alluded to by the Minister, telling the meeting that teachers must "think out of the box" because the parents will not accept the failure or poor performance because of lack of classrooms or overcrowding. What came to my mind is a question: Is the Minister trying to give an impression that we, teachers, may be doing little to educate the Namibian child or that she must not be blamed for the possible failure on its way? Where was the Minister all these days when we needed her most?By the end of last term, there were controversies in writing the end of term tests. A survey was conducted by the Ministry to find out what teachers prefer whether to write the tests or not. The teachers recommended that tests must be written. Later on, an instruction, sent through a directive, reached the schools mostly in the Northern regions that the tests will come to the region and they will only be conducted after the school holiday and no child must be bothered. Teachers complied. Then later another directive came that the regional test is no more coming and teachers must assess the learners before they go on June-July holiday. Teachers tried their best to give the learners at least something to do. It ended like that.Nowadays, learners, especially boys, are more dependent on soft porridge during the school day. But the reports have it that some kids in some parts have either been detected suffering from malnutrition or died. We may need urgent attention to help these kids out of hunger.Teachers have been on their own with new things, directives and the amended Education Act. That is where our disciplinary dilemma came to haunt the classroom environment. The dictate is that teachers must not do anything that affects the learners emotionally, psychology and or physically. That is when we read about a teacher being dismissed for corporal punishment.There is also a teacher who was slapped with a 13-year sentence by court for forging a qualification and attempting to kill a fellow. Not long ago but soon after the holiday OSHIGAMBO Lutheran School was terrorized by a minor who conducted himself as a pastor. He conducts deliverance. OSHIGAMBO is a religious school of the Finnish missionaries. The learner is in the revival and or charismatic churches. One would have thought the most senior official would come to the rescue of the school. It ended up being handled like any other simple matter. Minister, your presence is an absolute necessity!The overcrowdedness led to a lack of classrooms. This is a backlog caused by the Corona Generation. Many learners who are in Grades 4 to 7 have a counting, listening, reading and writing difficulty. This is because when Corona became a threat to the lives of the children and their families, schools were closed and they were taught through virtual assignment activities. The worst part of it was that there were no textbooks delivered to schools in the last 10 years. And again, the Ministry has only allocated N$300 per child per the financial year. What can such a amount buy in this world for a whole school calendar? The teachers are forced to do the financial administration rather than teaching. They are not contributing to schools from their own meager earnings. They also do fundraising activities for their respective schools. Teachers use their personal smartphones to do schoolwork while their seniors get the gadgets and credit at State expenses.In the bygone days, we used to slogan that "an injury to one is an injury to all". Gender discrimination is a rife education system caused by gender balance or equality. The females are now organizing themselves to capture all strategic positions in public spaces without considering the male-imposed vulnerability. If you think it is a joke, look at this Oshikoto region&#039;s example:1. Minister - female2. Deputy minister - female3. Regional director- female4. Inspector - female5. Majority of principals- females.7. Majority HoD being appointed - females6. Majority of best performers - femalesLet&#039;s hear what the unions have to say because long back, they were never silenced by politicians. But now trade unions are treated like the handkerchief. Gone are the days when the Minister would impress upon us with slogans like "Teach! Teach! Teach! Study! Study! Study". I have come back because the late Abraham Iyambo (RIP!) had called teachers back around 2009. But now it is a different world in which more veteran teachers go on early retirement to look for peace of mind. But hardly anyone wonders why? Let us hope there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Education Minister risks throwing teachers under the moving bus!

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Education Minister risks throwing teachers under the moving bus!

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