Brigitte Weidlich
21 April 2008
Windhoek — Under-qualified teachers will be phased out of the education system, Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba said in Parliament on Friday.
This was in line with the Education Act adopted a few years ago and people needed to understand this, Mbumba said when he tabled his Ministry's budget.
"We are in negotiations with the recognised labour union to address this problem and I trust that both sides will think nationally as we protect the interest of the present and future members of both the teaching profession and of the unions," the Minister said.
The total budget for education in the new financial year starting this month is N$4,7 billion, of which N$2,9 billion is gobbled up by salaries for teachers and ministerial staff. Mbumba said school hostels would cost the ministry N$309,7 million this year, while N$716,3 million is allocated to secondary education and N$2,3 billion to primary education. About N$213 million is allocated to the student financial assistance fund. Some N$40,8 million will be spent on the construction of new primary and secondary schools and N$24 million has been put aside to add classrooms, libraries, laboratories, offices and sanitation to existing State schools.
Existing schools will be renovated to the tune of N$23,5 million this year. Colleges, the Polytechnic and Unam will receive N$64,8 million for capital projects. Adult learning centres and national libraries will receive N$10,7 million for expansion. This year will also see the start of levy collection from businesses to fund vocational training.
The Ministry plans to establish a National Commission for Research, Science and Technology and a National Science and Technology Fund. Other developments include the drafting of an innovation policy and an indigenous knowledge policy system and their relevant laws.
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