Andrew Kathindi
Teachers and learners in the towns of Walvis Bay, Arandis and Swakopmund have defied the Ministry of Education’s directive for schools to reopen this week for face-to-face learning for grades 11 and 12.
This comes after Windhoek Observer reported that schools in the regions were unlikely to open after the Education ministry and the Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) failed to reach a consensus on the modalities of returning to schools, due to concerns over the rising cases of COVID-19 in the region.
It appears the Ministry may have overestimated the level of united positions amongst all schools concerned, after Education Minister, Anna Nghipondoka on Tuesday evening announced that some schools in the region had indicated their readiness for the resumption of face-to-face classes.
“Right now, we have done an observation on whether the learners have returned to school; there is no learner at all school. Teachers are also at home aside from teachers at Private Schools who were summoned on Monday,” said NANTU Erongo Regional Chairperson, Chris Eixab.
This comes as 36 new cases of COVID-19 in Erongo were reported by the Health ministry on Wednesday and the country recorded its seventh pandemic related death.
“It seems the ministry is reluctant to come out and ensure they have safety measures in place. What bothers us is that the ministry does not want to sit down at the table and look at possible compromise solutions. They are just sitting in Windhoek and imposing. I personally believe the directorate of Erongo is also under pressure, because they know the situation on the ground.”
Eixab said that the ministry was refusing to agree to NANTU’s demands to make funds and resources available amid fear that transmission might take place as leaners move from their homes to schools.
“On Friday, the statement that was released by the Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, we were not consulted. It was released late in the evening and you expect people to be at school on Monday without considering the safety precautions that must be in place. We need to sit and find a common solution with the ministry through the Directorate Education in Erongo. It’s not that teachers don’t want to go back to school, our interest is to make sure that safety measures are in place,” the NANTU regional leader said accusing the ministry of dragging its feet.
He maintained that until measures are in place, the union would not divert from its position against the resumption of classes.
Efforts to reach the Regional Director of Education in the ministry, Ernfriede Stephanus proved fruitless as questions sent to her office (while receipt was confirmed) were not answered and calls went unanswered.
