Strike ends, Hanse-Himarwa under fire Teachers will report back to duty today after the strike has been called off on Saturday and an agreement was reached with the teachers'' unions and government. The teachers have been offered a 9% salary increase by government for next year, while the parties agreed that for this year salary adjustments for teachers at Grades 15 to 13 will remain at 10% and for Grades 12 to 5 it will remain at 5%. For Grades 4 to 1A, it remains at 4%. This will be backdated to April 2016.
The 9% increase for next year will not only be for the teachers but for all government employees across the board.
The agreement was signed at State House between government, the Namibian National Teachers'' Union (Nantu) the Namibia Public Workers'' Union (Napwu).
The Nantu secretary-general Basilius Haingura officially declared that the teacher''s strike is over.
“The protracted dispute between the government and the teachers are over. I am calling off the strike and all teachers must report for services on 17 October,” he said.
Haingura however said that education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa is not fit for her office.
Speaking to Namibian Sun yesterday, Haingura said the minister has a “terrible attitude” which is the main reason teachers have lost faith in her. According to him, the minister proved that she does not have the teachers'' interests at heart.
“One would have expected her to get in contact with Nantu when she realised that her teachers were in trouble, but she ran to the media and accused us of not informing teachers about what they stood to lose during the strike instead of focussing on a positive solution,” said Haingura.
He also accused the minister of misleading parents that the strike would have no impact on their children. He added that the relationship between the country''s teachers and the minister has broken down.
“She told parents they must not panic. In fact, our remarks during the meeting with the president should have informed him that we are not happy with the minister,” said Haingura. The government has given assurance that teachers pay will not be deducted for the two days when teachers were on strike last week and classes were cancelled and exams were postponed last week. Hanse-Himarwa said that the signing of the agreement is significant as it brings a halt to the impasse and also signals the end to an extremely difficult situation during the past few months.
She said that it also signifies the fact that all partners have committed themselves to finding win-win solutions that will be beneficial for the employer and the employee.
She added that the subjects that were postponed on 13 and 14 October have been rescheduled as follows; for Grade 12 Mathematics Higher Level Paper 1 and 2 to be written on 31 October, Mathematics Ordinary Level Paper 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be written on 31 October and Entrepreneurship ordinary Level will be written on 1 November.
Furthermore for the Grade 10 exams Integrated Performing Arts Paper 1 will be written on 31 October, Needlework and Clothing will be written on 31 October and Life Science will be written on 1 November.
Hanse-Himarwa also responded to allegations that she had made hurtful remarks against teachers during the strike and said that democracy is prevailing and that the teachers exercised their right to strike.
“There was no conflict or hatred and I cannot recall that I have ever insulted any teacher,” she said.
President Hage Geingob said that democracy is linked to law and one cannot have democracy in a lawless country. “In democracy you engage, talk and negotiate.”
He said that Nantu rightfully and democratically voted to go on a strike and that there is no reason to deny anybody what is due to them.
ELLANIE SMIT & JEMIMA BEUKES