A group of unemployed graduate teachers on Thursday handed over a petition to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) in which they are demanding that interviews for teaching posts be abolished, among other issues. The group under the United Unemployed Educators Movement (UUEM) and backed by the Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN), stressed that in most cases over 400 applicants are invited for a single teaching post. The petition also read that all frozen teaching posts be unfrozen and that junior primary teaching posts currently occupied by unqualified teachers be given to the unemployed qualified teachers instead. “The issue of Insert Service Teachers is disturbing because contracts from 2015 ended in January but they are still in the system despite the fact that most of them are far behind with their academic progress,” they alleged. UUEM also called for the appointment of Grade 12 certificate holders and those from other fields of studies who take up vacancies for the secondary phase on a temporary basis to be abolished. Such posts must be given to qualified teachers regardless of the phase they specialised in because they are trained as teachers and are well equipped with knowledge of implementing evaluation and assessment. Contacted for comment TUN secretary-general, Mahongora Kavihuha said: “If we move to the agreed norm these teachers will be absorbed in Namibian schools. Moreover, the Government has the sole responsibility to ensure that any graduate is employed through their own initiatives and through private investors to ensure that there are jobs,” he said. Meanwhile, a local daily reported last year (September) that Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka, said the Government will not bend the law to make it possible to recruit unemployed graduate teachers in the country and that all teaching positions available under the ministry will be filled through established procedures and the recruitment policy framework. At the time, Nghipondoka made the remarks in the National Assembly when she clarified steps the government has taken to address the plight of unemployed graduate teachers. Public Relations Officer in the OPM, Saima Shaanika confirmed that the office received the petition, saying that Prime Minister, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila will study the petition before responding to them. The movement has given the Premier until 29 January 2021 to respond to their demands. -NAMPA