Teachers’ welfare crisis threatens learning outcomes

Battling burnout, debt
The TUN says worsening working conditions, financial pressure and staff shortages could undermine the quality of education received by learners.
Ndapandula Lilonga
  • 1 Month Ago

The Teachers’ Union of Namibia (TUN) has warned that declining teacher welfare is placing increasing pressure on classrooms and could have long-term consequences for the country’s young people.

Presenting before the National Council’s Standing Committee on Education, TUN vice-president Tjandero Tjituka said financial strain, heavy workloads and limited support systems were affecting teachers’ ability to provide effective instruction.

He said recent salary increases had been largely absorbed by rising medical aid contributions, leaving many educators struggling financially and feeling demoralised.

Nangula Ndeshikeva, a veteran state school teacher, said learners were often the ones most affected when teachers faced mounting pressure. “When teachers are stretched to breaking point, it is the students who suffer,” Ndeshikeva said.

She said exhausted teachers were less able to provide the guidance, emotional support and individual attention learners needed. “We see young people struggle because the system does not give enough support to the people responsible for guiding them,” she said.

TUN told the committee that several challenges were affecting classroom delivery, including shortages of teaching materials and administrative burdens placed on subject advisors.

The union said subject advisors were spending too much time on administrative duties instead of providing academic support to teachers.

Tjituka also criticised the automatic promotion of learners who fail grades, saying the policy contributes to poor academic outcomes by allowing learners to progress without mastering essential foundational skills.

He said the result was increased pressure on teachers and learners as students entered higher grades without adequate preparation.

Ndeshikeva said the strain within schools was affecting morale among both educators and learners.

“The emotional toll inside our schools is alarming,” she said. “Our youth look to us for stability, but they are also seeing an environment where teachers are exhausted and under pressure.”

TUN has called on government to prioritise teacher welfare, saying improving working conditions is essential to protecting learners’ right to quality education and strengthening Namibia’s future workforce.