Kindergarten teachers, assisted by their association the Namibia Pre-Schools Teachers’ Association (NPSTA), staged a peaceful demonstration at the Oniipa constituency offices last week, protesting against what they call ‘paltry allowances’ that they receive from Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare. Shifula Romanus, in a petition he read on behalf of the association president Lovisa Kashima, said the members are not happy with the monthly allowances they receive that range from N$1 000 to N$2 000 and which they want to be changed from allowances to salaries.
“Through Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP), we do not want these allowances anymore, we need salaries,” said Romanus.
“These allowances are too little and they do not come on time. We need to improve our studies for us to give quality education, but the money is very little, plus we also have basic needs and families to take care of.”
The group also alleges that not all members receive the monthly allowance adding that when they move from one region to work in another, their allowances stop being paid.
They also want the ministry of gender and the directorate of early childhood development to explain how they arrived at the decision to pay allowances and not salaries. The association that was established in 2006 has over 2 000 registered members throughout the country. “Under HPP, we need salaries of N$8 000 per month to sustain the high cost of living. We also want them to tell us our responsibilities and benefits from HPP,” Romanus said.
Oniipa constituency councillor Jerry Ngwena received the petition on behalf of governor of the Oshikoto Region Henok Kankoshi. When contacted for comment, Kankoshi said although he was informed about the demonstration, he was not aware of the teachers’ grievances but he promised to forward their concerns to the relevant offices. The director for early childhood development in the gender equality ministry, Eline Nghiitwikwa said she could only comment after consulting her minister and permanent secretary.
ILENI NANDJATO