Nantu wants education bill suspended

THE Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) is demanding the suspension of the debate on the basic education bill, otherwise they will take drastic action.

Nantu secretary general Basilius Haingura told a press briefing yesterday that the union and other parties had requested the National Assembly to withdraw the bill because it lacks substance.

“Unfortunately, our request was not considered,” he said, adding that the union agreed during a meeting at the weekend that the bill cannot go through in its current form.

The bill is before the National Council for scrutiny before it is returned to the National Assembly for the last round of deliberations, and then being passed on to president Hage Geingob for his signature.

“There are many areas that need improvement or amendments. Due to limited time, Nantu is unable to submit its proposed input to the bill,” he said, adding that the union wants the debate suspended until proper consultations with key stakeholders, such as teachers, are done. “Educators are key stakeholders in the sector, and they should be listened to and protected too,” Haingura said.

Some of the issues raised by the union were that the bill fails to spell out what is required from a teacher, or the role of the school board.

Haingura also threatened that the union will take drastic action if its requests are not considered.

However, minister of education Katrina Hanse-Himarwa said they asked all the relevant stakeholders from the regions to send through their inputs over the past three years before the bill was tabled.

She further said the bill will not be suspended because of a group which says it was not consulted because they had an opportunity to have their say.

Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi told yesterday that he had received the union’s recommendations, but there was no basis for him to act on them.

He explained that he forwards all suggestions to the relevant ministry, in this case the ministry of education. It is then up to them to decide which ideas to take, and which ones to leave out.

According to Katjavivi, there is no way for him as speaker to know what suggestions are taken or left out as he just oversees the discussions made in the National Assembly.

The union also disagreed with teachers being forced to take leave as that means pupils are left unattended during that period.

“The government should not play dubious games, claiming to promote the right of the child, and at the same time denying the same child their right to education,” Haingura said.

Education directors have recently sent letters to teachers, asking them to plan when they go on leave.