In the past, the day that commemorates the Soweto 1976 uprising when school children were killed by the apartheid South African regime has always been a public holiday in Namibia.
This year, however, the education ministry said as the employer, they can decide not to follow the calendar.
There has been a flurry of communication between the education ministry and the Namibia National Teachers Union in the past two weeks.
But the swords were drawn out Monday when the education permanent secretary Sanet Steenkamp wrote to schools ordering headmasters that June 16 was a normal school day.
Basilius Haingura, general secretary of teachers’ union, however, wrote to the members, advising them not to report for duty Thursday.
Haingura said any teacher who is intimidated or victimized because of not reporting for duty should advise the union.
The impasse has left teachers and school children confused, although some headmasters have been quoted in various media saying that they would follow their union’s orders. Enditem
Source: Xinhua/NewsGhana.com.gh
