The Namibia National Teachers' Union (Nantu) and the Office of the Prime Minister have signed an agreement in terms of which Government will raise the pay grades of college lecturers by one notch.

The agreement is scheduled to come into effect in a few days - on November 1.

Nantu General Secretary Basilius Haingura said the agreement was signed yesterday when the two parties met for a fourth time to discuss the salary demands of lecturers at the country's four teachers' training colleges.

Haingura said the agreement will push up the lecturers' salaries, housing subsidies and pensions.

However, it will not put them at the same level as lecturers at the University of Namibia and Polytechnic of Namibia.

Lecturers countrywide had threatened to go on strike if their persistent demands for re-grading and for salary increases were not met.