Maria David
OVER 100 Early Childhood Development (ECD) teachers in the north held a peaceful demonstration demanding better wages, petitioning the office of the Oshana governor on Thursday.
In their petition, they requested the Minister of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare and her entire leadership to reconsider the current salary of N$1,500, asking for it to be increased to N$5,000. Additionally, they requested that educators be paid according to the Grading Structure (Grade 13).
They said that they are aware that the Early Childhood Development Programme was introduced and is currently receiving financial support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to facilitate the learning and teaching of enrolled children.
Equally, UNICEF has introduced a monthly financial support for educators working at community and church Early Childhood Development Centres across the country.
“After many negotiations and discussions dating back to 2012, the Ministry has currently offered an amount of N$1,500 to each educator, based on the ongoing signing of contracts, which commenced in July 2024,” the petition read.
However, they expressed that N$1,500 is insufficient compared to the workload at the centres. Therefore, they are strongly appealing to the Ministry of Gender Equality, Poverty Eradication and Social Welfare to reconsider its decision and increase the amount to N$5,000, or at least ensure educators are paid according to a Grading Structure with additional benefits such as transport and housing allowances, specifically at Grade 13, allowing them to be formally paid like any other government employee in the public sector.
Moreover, they also request that a medical aid scheme and retirement benefits form part of the proposed benefits.
