Nico Smit
20 April 2011
SHAPE up or ship out, was the message from Education Minister, Dr. Abraham Iyambo, as he launched a scathing verdict on education inspectors, advisory teachers and textbook officials at a workshop in Otjiwarongo last week.
Speaking at the opening of the workshop for education inspectors, advisory teachers and text book officials, the minister told those present that they have a crucial role to play in education. “Individually and collectively you are professionally and morally obliged to deliver and not to fail,” Iyambo said.
The education minister commended those “who serve willingly, passionately, heartily and zealously,” despite the numerous obstacles that they face. “I know that that there are those who carry an aura of dignity, dynamism, honour and hard work. To those I say, thank you and bravo,” the education minister said.
Iyambo’s praises were short-lived however as he noted that “research has proven evidently that the Ministry of Education has all the relevant policies in place and the problem is simply caused by an irresponsibility syndrome called non-implementation of these policies.”
With regard to education inspectors, the minister said that he has witnessed many teachers and principals arriving at school late, unprepared or even drunk. He said that some teachers or managers absent themselves from schools and spend up to a week in towns under the pretext of collecting salaries.
Iyambo said that some inspectors fail to reprimand principals who fail to perform to standard. “Surprisingly, some inspectors even praise such acts of mediocrity in terms of service delivery,” the education minister said.
Turning to advisory teachers, the minister spelled out their role before informing them that he is aware that some of them “simply advise by correspondence. In other words, you do not physically go to schools and meet teachers but, you do it telephonically.”
Iyambo said that while there is evidence that some advisory teachers are not visiting schools to render advices, he “would not be surprised to learn that some of you do not even know the needs of the teachers you were supposed to advise in the first place.”
“My unambiguous message to teachers in this regard is that, those of you who are not performing or who are not willing to be assisted to perform, then they should rather do themselves a favour and resign, retire, excuse yourself from the profession,” the education minister said.
Iyambo spared no punches with the textbook officials either, as he said that “the issue of textbook management, ordering and distribution painfully tinkles my nerves.” The education minister noted that the management of textbooks at many schools is either non-existent or in chaos saying, “Some school management just have no clue.”
Speaking on the close cooperation between education inspectors, advisory teachers and textbook officials, Iyambo reminded those present at the workshop that they share a common cause, vision and mission, an undertaking he said, which requires their collective efforts.
“Therefore the relationship between inspectors of education, advisory teachers and regional textbook officers is essential and must be underpinned by knitted collaboration. It bothers me to hear employees undermining each other while the education, in particular learners are suffering in- between.
The education minister made a call to those in the education sector to focus on delivery. “Let us deliver and vow with one voice that code, choice, character beliefs and tradition is deliver. I need only one thing from all in the education sector and that is to deliver, deliver and deliver. That is what I am expecting of you all”, Iyambo said.
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