TUN adult education practitioners to demonstrate

WINDHOEK, 28 AUG – Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) adult education practitioners will hold a peaceful demonstration on 06 September to raise their concern about unanswered demands by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MEAC).

Speaking at a media conference here on Tuesday, TUN Secretary-General (SG) Mahongora Kavihuha said in July 2018, TUN wrote a letter to the Permanent Secretary (PS) of MEAC Sanet Steenkamp on issues affecting the duties of the practitioners and Adult Literacy Education as a whole.

He emphasised that issues raised amongst others such as overtime, salary grading, curriculum and the updating of policies went answered by the PS in her response on 01 August.
She however responded that the contract of the promoters must run for 12 months in contrary to the 10 months which is currently been practised, he said.

He added that: “As a result we have requested the PS without delay to instruct all Regional Directors to extend the current contract to run until next year February.”

She also responded that all education officers are entitled to overtime and if there are some who are having outstanding overtime payments, they should contact the TUN office for ease of facilitation.

Furthermore, he noted that due to the slow pace in which both the Office of the Prime Minister OPM and the MEAC are handling the matter, TUN’s members will also not attend the annual literacy week celebration scheduled for 03 to 05 September, however will be carrying out their normal teaching activities.

“There is no seriousness from the side of the PS in handling the issues of our members. We are going to demonstrate in order for our demands to be responded to timely,” said Kavihuha.
Kavihuha stressed that members cannot celebrate events meant for them if they are not happy.
He added that there are over 600 adult education practitioners countrywide, of which 70 per cent are TUN members. – NAMPA