Chalks have fallen - The namibian teachers strike 2016.

Pomwene Shakela, Grade 12 learner: “Okay, the thing is… We’re not saying that the government should not give the teachers the 8% increment that they’re asking for, and neither are we saying that the teachers should accept the 5% increment that government is offering. But, what we’re saying is that they should fix their dispute, they should solve their problems, but they should leave us out of it.”

Figure 1: Learners at Gabriel Taapopi Senior Secondary School in Ongwediva.

An impassioned and grammatically correct plea, against the backdrop of the first legal teachers strike in Namibia’s history. Thousands of Grade 10, and Grade 12 learners turned up to school, only to find out that the examinations scheduled for the 13^th and 14^th October had been postponed, because there were no teachers to invigilate the exams. Chalks had fallen, the educators were on strike.

After failing to come to an agreement with the government on an appropriate percentage for a long due salary increment, the teachers through their union (Namibia National Teachers Union) voted for industrial action and put their chalks down. Government, reactionary as always, chose to delay – resorting to a last minute appeal in the High Court to interdict the strike. Two elephants had decided to fight, and the grass was suffering. 

 

Simeon Kavila, President of the Namibian National Teachers Union (Nantu): “Our demand is [for the strike] not to be politicised. It’s about bread and butter issues. We’re teachers of this country and our actions are not politically motivated. There is intimidation of our members on the ground and we condemn this practice. We see it as intimidation… and it must be stopped without further delay,”

Nantu and the government had been locked in negotiations since April 2016. The government offered a 5% salary increment for the financial year 2016/2017 and an increment in housing allowance (8%) and transport allowance (7%), an offer that other public servants had accepted through their union (Namibia Public Workers Union – NAPWU). Government stated that 5% was what it could afford, citing a dire financial situation due an economic downturn, and a crippling drought.

Nantu rejected the offer, citing that as inflation currently stood at over 6%, they could not accept an increment below the inflation rate. Nantu instead requested an 8% salary increment, in addition to the increment in housing allowance. Negotiations had reached a deadlock, with claims of influence by third parties and imperialist forces, the name calling and political mudsling had started.

With no resolution in sight, Nantu sought a way forward from its electorate. The teachers voted unanimously for the strike in September 2016, over 95% voted in favour. The government retaliated with what the teachers viewed as a threat, the prime minister issued a warning, “No work, no pay!” The lines had been drawn, Nantu subsequently notified the government and gave them 24 hour notice, the government sought to delay by seeking an extension on the notice period. It became clear that the government was playing for time to avoid the External Examinations for Grade 10 and 12 from being disrupted. Nantu issued their own warning, as per rules set by the conciliator, the strike would start in 7 days. The smaller elephant was not backing down, the lines had been drawn and the fight was on. 

Katrina Hanse Himarwa, Minister of Basic Education, Arts, and Culture: “Nantu must should know where to start and where to end, and Nanso should know where to start and where to End. Nantu has been recognised by the government as a bargaining agent, Nantu must know where their mandate starts and where it ends. Nantu is not government, and Nantu has not recognised the government, it is the government that has recognised Nantu, and they should know that. ”

Considering the “No work, no pay,” comments that the Prime Minister had issued earlier, the writing was on the wall. The government made it clear to the teachers that the gloves were off, and the scene was set for an epic showdown.

On the morning of the 13^th of October, Namibian teachers went on strike. School was cancelled, and external exams were postponed. As teachers picketed at their designated venues, Nantu and the government went back to the negotiating table to find an amicable solution and hopefully end the strike.

"We want to write!"

Pomwene Shakela, Grade 12 learner: “They should try to be considerate and put us first, because at the end of the day, if we do not have accredited certificates then we won’t have an industrialised nation. So, we want to write!”

Taking a leaf from Pomwene’s book, it can’t be said that the teachers were unreasonable. Their reasons to strike are valid, with conditions as they are, teachers are struggling to put bread on the table. Neither can it be said that the government’s reasons are invalid, the money simply isn’t there, but whose fault is that really? No clear explanation was given on how this messed occurred. No one stepped forward to present a sense of accountability for the country’s financial predicament.

The strike stopped being about money the minute that the government and especially the minister of Education started undermining and intimidating teachers. It then became about respect, teachers are vital components of producing productive citizens, threatening them is tantamount to going against the current government’s principle of ‘the Namibian house’. If the concept of the Namibian house is going to work, then the concerns of the electorate must finally be taken seriously and prioritised, political office bearers are elected, so they must know that they are accountable to the electorate. 

The innocent suffered, learners who had no part in it, they paid the price – collateral damage. They now have to refocus and recalibrate their minds to complete the most important exams of their lives. All of which could have been avoided had the government prioritised the teachers concerns, even if the money was not available, showing 20 000 thousand professionals a semblance of respect instead of threatening them would have gone a far way in averting the strike. 

I’ll close with a few wishful statements. If Abraham Iiyambo were still alive and humbly asked teachers not to strike in the interests of the learners, they would have listened – instead they received taunts and threats. History will say that the strike only lasted two days, the learners paid the price and it will give the impression that the teachers gained more, but if lessons are not learnt, then will history will eventually repeat itself. For now, sanity has prevailed the Namibian child has what they wanted and is theirs by right – they can write their exams.

[The Namibian teachers strike was called off after two days (13^th – 15^th October 2016), the Union (Nantu) and the government agreed on a 5% increment towards teachers’ salaries for 2016/2017 and a futher 9% increase for 2017/2018. The minister and the Union still ain’t got no love for each other.]