Speaking on Monday to the staff of Masunga Senior Secondary School, Maenjani Junior Secondary School, Kalakamati Primary School, and Sekakangwe Primary School, Mr Hunyepa noted that these challenges had escalated to the point where school authorities were refusing to approve negotiated swapping arrangements between teachers.

He indicated that those in authority frequently decline swapping requests without reasonable grounds, even though such transfers could be effected immediately. 

Resolving these requests fairly, he noted, could significantly reduce the current discontent within the teaching profession.

“Worse still, there are no promotions. As we speak right now, thousands of teachers are stuck at the C1 salary scale with nowhere to move,” he said, adding that current prospects for promotion remained bleak.

Mr Hunyepa stated that some teachers had stagnated at the C1 scale for nearly 20 years despite performing exceptionally well.

Turning to student behavior, the assistant minister emphasised that a teacher’s work built directly on the foundation parents laid at home, particularly regarding discipline.

“If parents do not play their part at home, it becomes a heavy burden and a source of stress for teachers. Some parents even call on teachers to discipline their children through corporal punishment at school because they have failed to do so at home,” he said.

He stressed that if children were mismanaged at home, it was nearly impossible for teachers to correct them at school, as character foundations began with the family.

Regarding the accommodation crisis, Mr Hunyepa acknowledged that housing shortages affected almost all schools, adding that most existing staff houses were dilapidated and needed maintenance.

“Teachers deserve good living conditions, decent salaries, proper housing, and clean, modern classrooms,” he said. 

He noted that ceilings were currently collapsing in some schools, while bats had overrun both classrooms and staff quarters.

To this end the assistant minister stated that the government had established the Education Infrastructure Management Company (EIMC) to address these systemic issues. 

The entity will be responsible for the maintenance, renovation, and construction of schools nationwide. 

The schools’ top brass highlighted an acute shortage of staff accommodation, classrooms,furniture, office space, severe shortage of textbooks and learning materials and vacant posts that have left multiple classes unattended.

The Acting School Head for Masunga Senior Secondary School, Mr Rashoro Rebabedi, stated that the institution was grappling with a lack of hot bathing water for boarding students, which was destabilising the school routine.

Other staff members urged the minister to fill existing vacancies using temporary teachers, noting that these positions were already budgeted for. They also emphasised the need to fill vacancies created by retirements and transfers promptly to avoid learning disruptions. ENDS