Ministry in hot water over study ban

A CIRCULAR that bars teachers from acquiring additional qualifications without the knowledge of the Ministry of Basic Education has landed the State in hot water.

The Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) is in the process of approaching the Labour Court to apply for an order for the withdrawal of the circular. Government issued the circular last July, warning that the qualifications of teachers who enrol for further studies without the knowledge of the Ministry of Basic Education would not be recognised for the calculation of salary increments.Nantu Secretary General Miriam Hamutenya said the circular was issued without consultation with the union – the recognised bargaining agent for teachers – and it thus contravened the Labour Act.”Such a circular is therefore a blatant violation of the recognition agreement and a change of employment conditions for teachers,” Hamutenya told a media briefing in Windhoek on Thursday.Nantu, through its lawyers, wrote to the Ministry of Basic Education in December to point out the allegedly ‘illegal’ move.They gave the Ministry until January 15 to withdraw the circular or face court action.Hamutenya said the Ministry had failed to act and Nantu had instructed its lawyer, Sisa Namandje, to proceed with a court interdict.Namandje confirmed the instruction and said they would “soon apply for an interdict” unless an appropriate response from Government was received in the meantime.At Thursday’s briefing, Nantu leaders alleged that the Ministry was not adhering to the conditions of the staffing norms agreement that was signed between the two parties in 2001.One of the aims of the agreement was to reduce inequities between regions by providing a teacher for 35 primary learners and one teacher for 30 secondary pupils.Hamutenya said because of a failure to implement the staffing norms, many classrooms were either too full or had an oversupply of teachers.”This intentional misinterpretation of the agreement is causing even further difficulties for recent BETD (Basic Education Teacher Diploma) graduates who are being recruited for employment,” she said.She said many graduates were put on a waiting list because schools were overstaffed.The Teachers’ Union of Namibia (TUN) – opposition to Nantu – had earlier pointed out that the introduction of the staffing norms showed a lack of consultation.TUN President Gert Jansen said the qualifications of hundreds of teachers who had studied through the Azaliah College and the Open Learning College of Namibia in 2001 and 2002 were not recognised because the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) was slow to evaluate the courses.In addition, the Ministry told teachers that they needed a certain number of years of experience in a specific field before they studied further in that field.Jansen said Nantu was part of the Accrediting Council but “were sleeping”.”Their direct affiliation to Swapo played a vital role,” Jansen claimed.Government issued the circular last July, warning that the qualifications of teachers who enrol for further studies without the knowledge of the Ministry of Basic Education would not be recognised for the calculation of salary increments. Nantu Secretary General Miriam Hamutenya said the circular was issued without consultation with the union – the recognised bargaining agent for teachers – and it thus contravened the Labour Act. “Such a circular is therefore a blatant violation of the recognition agreement and a change of employment conditions for teachers,” Hamutenya told a media briefing in Windhoek on Thursday. Nantu, through its lawyers, wrote to the Ministry of Basic Education in December to point out the allegedly ‘illegal’ move. They gave the Ministry until January 15 to withdraw the circular or face court action. Hamutenya said the Ministry had failed to act and Nantu had instructed its lawyer, Sisa Namandje, to proceed with a court interdict. Namandje confirmed the instruction and said they would “soon apply for an interdict” unless an appropriate response from Government was received in the meantime. At Thursday’s briefing, Nantu leaders alleged that the Ministry was not adhering to the conditions of the staffing norms agreement that was signed between the two parties in 2001. One of the aims of the agreement was to reduce inequities between regions by providing a teacher for 35 primary learners and one teacher for 30 secondary pupils. Hamutenya said because of a failure to implement the staffing norms, many classrooms were either too full or had an oversupply of teachers. “This intentional misinterpretation of the agreement is causing even further difficulties for recent BETD (Basic Education Teacher Diploma) graduates who are being recruited for employment,” she said. She said many graduates were put on a waiting list because schools were overstaffed. The Teachers’ Union of Namibia (TUN) – opposition to Nantu – had earlier pointed out that the introduction of the staffing norms showed a lack of consultation. TUN President Gert Jansen said the qualifications of hundreds of teachers who had studied through the Azaliah College and the Open Learning College of Namibia in 2001 and 2002 were not recognised because the Namibia Qualifications Authority (NQA) was slow to evaluate the courses. In addition, the Ministry told teachers that they needed a certain number of years of experience in a specific field before they studied further in that field. Jansen said Nantu was part of the Accrediting Council but “were sleeping”. “Their direct affiliation to Swapo played a vital role,” Jansen claimed.