Namibian teachers call off strike

The Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) has called off the nationwide strike that started Thursday after reaching an agreement with the government.

Teachers were demanding an 8 percent salary increase for the 2016/17 financial year, while the government had offered 5 percent.

Although the teachers were not given the 8 percent they wanted this year, they agreed that they would get a 9 percent increase on April 1 next year.

Nantu president Simeon Kavila made the announcement Saturday at State House when the union signed the agreement with the government's bargaining unit.

The strike involving more than 25, 000 teachers had already paralyzed the Namibian educational system and resulted in four examinations being postponed indefinitely.

Education minister Katrina Hanse-Himarwa cancelled classes on Thursday and Friday.

In the past six months, the government had stood its ground and even threatened that those teachers who participate in the strike would not be paid for the days spent away from work.

When the teachers showed defiance, the government approached the labor court seeking an interdict to stop the nationwide strike.

The labor court ruled in favor of the teachers' union Wednesday thereby setting the stage for the strike.

Saturday's signing was President Hage Geingob's efforts to break the impasse which he started on Tuesday, a day before the labor court ruling.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Geingob said although the government had declared a "no work, no pay" policy, part of the agreement is that teachers would be paid for the two days they were on strike. Endit