The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture’s Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, said teachers are the essential human resource for the country’s education system to be functional and actors that can be counted on for desired results.
Steenkamp made these remarks here on Wednesday at Dagbreek Primary School during the commemoration of World Teachers Day under the theme ‘Teachers at the Heart of Education Recovery’.
She said that through enthusiasm, teachers continue to inspire learners to accomplish and become innovators, researchers, artists, engineers, scientists or any other occupation they wish to pursue in life. Therefore, teachers are at the inception phase of all the diverse expertise needed for national development goals.
“Through your love and hope, aspiration is nurtured from a tender age, in Pre-Primary until our learners graduate from school with their school leaving certificates and enter higher education institutions or the world of work. Indeed, the future of our youth and our nation are in your hands,” said Steenkamp.
She added that empathy and tolerance towards all learners and fellow teachers should become crucial during the current hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the ministry is cognisant and grateful for contributions made by all stakeholders who enabled the education system to be resilient.
“We are immensely grateful for your determination, zeal and dedication. We thank all the teachers for taking the initiative to ensure education continues through blended approaches of printed worksheets or booklets, together with motivating and guiding messaging using telecommunication devices and other periodical interactions with their learners,” stated Steenkamp.
Teachers Union of Namibia president, Toini Nauyoma, who spoke at the same occasion, said teachers should not only be praised with words but their hard work and dedication should be recognised with better conditions and remunerations as it is also a motivating factor for them to continue working hard.
“What I can tell the Ministry of Education is that, come next year, we are going to advocate for salary increments for teachers. That way government can demonstrate that teachers are appreciated,” said Nauyoma.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency
