The grim reality of teacher jobs in Namibia
Calls to regulate intakes
The 1 500 new graduate teachers are joining 8 000 others that have been standing in the job queue.
With over 8 000 teachers reportedly remaining unemployed since graduating between 2017 and 2023, the situation is about to get even worse.
This after an additional 1 500 graduates from the University of Namibia’s (Unam) northern and north-eastern campuses joined their unemployed predecessors in recent weeks.
Things have become so dire that there is a growing perception that becoming a teacher these days requires one to have ‘connections’ or even indulge in unethical conduct such as bribery to land a job.
Last year, the education ministry filled about 740 positions, while another 750 jobs are to be advertised and filled this year.
At Unam’s Rundu campus, 506 education students recently graduated, while a further 332 received their qualifications at the Katima Mulilo campus. At the university’s northern campuses, a combined 663 graduates joined the workforce, bringing the total of new teachers to 1 501. This figure excludes those who graduated at other universities and the over 15 colleges in the country that offer qualifications in education. Most institutions have graduation ceremonies twice a year.
Stiff competition
Graduates spend thousands of dollars on transport and accommodation as they traverse the country to attend job interviews that often result in no job offers. New graduates face stiff competition from both their cohorts as well as thousands of other unemployed Namibians who have spent years looking for jobs.
It is alleged some school principals and members of interview panels are often bribed by desperate jobseekers in return for those jobs.
Executive director Sanet Steenkamp confirmed that the education ministry recently launched an investigation into claims of bribery in the Zambezi Region.
She added that despite the rumours, evidence to substantiate the claims have not been brought forward.
Having to rely on hearsay means the ministry will have to spend a lot of money to investigate the claims, she added.
‘We won’t hesitate’
“On the bribery claims, we have received cases in the Zambezi Region and we investigated, but nobody has come forth to give us any evidence,” Steenkamp said. “We usually receive faceless, nameless cautions on email and then we act on it. We spent a lot of money on investigations, but there is usually no evidence,” she said.
She admitted that the perception does exist that there is a lack of teaching positions, adding that this perception needs to be addressed.
“I also wish to say this: If you are in the teaching profession or any public service, we should serve with integrity. If there is any principal or members of an interview panel who is not working within the confines of the law and not complying within the provided regulations and you have evidence of it, we won’t be shy to charge them.
“We are very clear at the ministry that we are serving an honourable profession and the last thing we want is for people to receive bribes,” Steenkamp said.
Remaining hopeful
On 26 April, close to 700 graduate teachers obtained their qualifications at a Unam graduation ceremony at Ongwediva.
Several graduates who spoke on condition of anonymity indicated that they remain hopeful and will battle for the jobs set to be advertised.
“We knew the situation of the lack of jobs in the education fraternity even while we were studying; however, one must remain hopeful and leave it to God. If teaching is my calling, I will keep trying until I make it,” a graduate said.
Namibian Sun asked Omusati governor Erginus Endjala for his view on the saturated job market for teachers.
According to him, Namibia has reached its peak in terms of producing graduate teachers and it’s time for Namibians to study professions that are in high demand.
“Some job markets are already flooded; for example, teaching. I think we have reached our peak. [Maybe] it is time for us to retrain them for new subjects that are coming in that talk to innovation, such as green hydrogen and oil and gas. That is where the focus should be now.
“We have too many institutions that are offering education and now we are failing to absorb [graduates]. Maybe we have to scale down on enrolment,” he said.
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This after an additional 1 500 graduates from the University of Namibia’s (Unam) northern and north-eastern campuses joined their unemployed predecessors in recent weeks.
Things have become so dire that there is a growing perception that becoming a teacher these days requires one to have ‘connections’ or even indulge in unethical conduct such as bribery to land a job.
Last year, the education ministry filled about 740 positions, while another 750 jobs are to be advertised and filled this year.
At Unam’s Rundu campus, 506 education students recently graduated, while a further 332 received their qualifications at the Katima Mulilo campus. At the university’s northern campuses, a combined 663 graduates joined the workforce, bringing the total of new teachers to 1 501. This figure excludes those who graduated at other universities and the over 15 colleges in the country that offer qualifications in education. Most institutions have graduation ceremonies twice a year.
Stiff competition
Graduates spend thousands of dollars on transport and accommodation as they traverse the country to attend job interviews that often result in no job offers. New graduates face stiff competition from both their cohorts as well as thousands of other unemployed Namibians who have spent years looking for jobs.
It is alleged some school principals and members of interview panels are often bribed by desperate jobseekers in return for those jobs.
Executive director Sanet Steenkamp confirmed that the education ministry recently launched an investigation into claims of bribery in the Zambezi Region.
She added that despite the rumours, evidence to substantiate the claims have not been brought forward.
Having to rely on hearsay means the ministry will have to spend a lot of money to investigate the claims, she added.
‘We won’t hesitate’
“On the bribery claims, we have received cases in the Zambezi Region and we investigated, but nobody has come forth to give us any evidence,” Steenkamp said. “We usually receive faceless, nameless cautions on email and then we act on it. We spent a lot of money on investigations, but there is usually no evidence,” she said.
She admitted that the perception does exist that there is a lack of teaching positions, adding that this perception needs to be addressed.
“I also wish to say this: If you are in the teaching profession or any public service, we should serve with integrity. If there is any principal or members of an interview panel who is not working within the confines of the law and not complying within the provided regulations and you have evidence of it, we won’t be shy to charge them.
“We are very clear at the ministry that we are serving an honourable profession and the last thing we want is for people to receive bribes,” Steenkamp said.
Remaining hopeful
On 26 April, close to 700 graduate teachers obtained their qualifications at a Unam graduation ceremony at Ongwediva.
Several graduates who spoke on condition of anonymity indicated that they remain hopeful and will battle for the jobs set to be advertised.
“We knew the situation of the lack of jobs in the education fraternity even while we were studying; however, one must remain hopeful and leave it to God. If teaching is my calling, I will keep trying until I make it,” a graduate said.
Namibian Sun asked Omusati governor Erginus Endjala for his view on the saturated job market for teachers.
According to him, Namibia has reached its peak in terms of producing graduate teachers and it’s time for Namibians to study professions that are in high demand.
“Some job markets are already flooded; for example, teaching. I think we have reached our peak. [Maybe] it is time for us to retrain them for new subjects that are coming in that talk to innovation, such as green hydrogen and oil and gas. That is where the focus should be now.
“We have too many institutions that are offering education and now we are failing to absorb [graduates]. Maybe we have to scale down on enrolment,” he said.
[email protected]
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