Govt has no funds to avert teachers’ strike

GOVERNMENT is set to tell thousands of teachers today that there is no money to increase their salaries.

The Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) has given Government until the close of business this afternoon to come up with a proposal on increased salaries and benefits for ‘old’ teachers or face action. The Office of the Prime Minister announced in January last year that it would implement a universal salary structure for all teachers, but the wages have yet to be changed.At present, new Basic Education Teaching Diploma (BETD) graduates are being placed in higher salary brackets than teachers already employed.As a result some teachers are quitting only to rejoin the profession so that they can be appointed in a higher category.Sources in the Ministry of Education said yesterday that Minister Nangolo Mbumba would inform Nantu today that there is “absolutely no money to implement their demand”.”The best the Government can do is to reverse the decision on the new (BETD) teachers but that will lead to legal complications.We need an additional N$500 million to improve the salaries of the teachers.There is no money,” the source said.Mbumba took the issue to Cabinet last week but it was noted that Government was already struggling to pay the existing teaching workforce and would prefer to compromise with the union by giving existing teachers small increases.In a rare show of solidarity, the rival Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) has thrown its weight behind Nantu’s threat to go on strike if Government fails to review the appointment requirements for teachers.TUN President Gert Jansen said they would support “any action from anyone that will put teachers in a better position”.He said new BETD graduates were better off than ‘old’ teachers although they did the same work.Jansen cited as an example a case in which a teacher resigned in 2003 and re-applied for a teaching post.Before resigning, the teacher earned around N$61 000 a year.He was re-employed at a salary of around N$114 000.A media briefing will likely be called tomorrow to clarify Nantu’s next move.It is rare for Nantu and TUN to agree.Jansen said an agreement on a strike was “long overdue”, as Government had taken too long to implement the changes.The TUN also wants Government to improve the work conditions of school administrators and secretaries, and to implement a non-discriminatory and equitable promotion policy.Jansen said the Ministry of Education also needed to review its staff housing policy.Nantu said yesterday it was in the dark about Government’s intentions.Once the union serves notice on the Office of the Labour Commissioner, Nantu would have two weeks to prepare its next action, believed to be a strike.It is believed that Government committed itself to promoting all qualified teachers in January last year, only to realise later that money had not been budgeted for the improvement of teachers’ service conditions.Sources said there was a big debate over who made the commitment – whether it was the previous two Education ministries or the Office of the Prime Minister – and who should take responsibility for the wrong timing.The Office of the Prime Minister announced in January last year that it would implement a universal salary structure for all teachers, but the wages have yet to be changed.At present, new Basic Education Teaching Diploma (BETD) graduates are being placed in higher salary brackets than teachers already employed.As a result some teachers are quitting only to rejoin the profession so that they can be appointed in a higher category.Sources in the Ministry of Education said yesterday that Minister Nangolo Mbumba would inform Nantu today that there is “absolutely no money to implement their demand”.”The best the Government can do is to reverse the decision on the new (BETD) teachers but that will lead to legal complications.We need an additional N$500 million to improve the salaries of the teachers.There is no money,” the source said.Mbumba took the issue to Cabinet last week but it was noted that Government was already struggling to pay the existing teaching workforce and would prefer to compromise with the union by giving existing teachers small increases.In a rare show of solidarity, the rival Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) has thrown its weight behind Nantu’s threat to go on strike if Government fails to review the appointment requirements for teachers.TUN President Gert Jansen said they would support “any action from anyone that will put teachers in a better position”.He said new BETD graduates were better off than ‘old’ teachers although they did the same work.Jansen cited as an example a case in which a teacher resigned in 2003 and re-applied for a teaching post.Before resigning, the teacher earned around N$61 000 a year.He was re-employed at a salary of around N$114 000.A media briefing will likely be called tomorrow to clarify Nantu’s next move.It is rare for Nantu and TUN to agree.Jansen said an agreement on a strike was “long overdue”, as Government had taken too long to implement the changes.The TUN also wants Government to improve the work conditions of school administrators and secretaries, and to implement a non-discriminatory and equitable promotion policy.Jansen said the Ministry of Education also needed to review its staff housing policy.Nantu said yesterday it was in the dark about Government’s intentions.Once the union serves notice on the Office of the Labour Commissioner, Nantu would have two weeks to prepare its next action, believed to be a strike.It is believed that Government committed itself to promoting all qualified teachers in January last year, only to realise later that money had not been budgeted for the improvement of teachers’ service conditions.Sources said there was a big debate over who made the commitment – whether it was the previous two Education ministries or the Office of the Prime Minister – and who should take responsibility for the wrong timing.