Hundreds of students receive qualifications in education on an annual basis. 

However, due to the high supply of graduates in the education field, most find it close to impossible to find employment, leaving them at risk of poverty despite their qualifications. 

Unemployed teachers have taken to the streets to express their dissatisfaction with the increasing number of unemployed people, particularly educators.

The graduates marched from the Katutura Youth Centre to the Ministry of Education at Government Park, where they handed over their petition, demanding mass recruitment.

The unemployed teachers also demanded that the government do away with interviews, which they said led to unfair placement, alleging corruption and nepotism in the system.

They challenged the ministry to initiate fairer and more transparent recruitment processes, one suggestion being the introduction of a platoon system in primary schools, with two teachers assigned to each classroom.

"There is a serious shortage of teachers in many regions. We call on the Ministry to implement a mass recruitment strategy to address unemployment among qualified unemployed teachers and meet the needs of overcrowded classrooms. Learners can be split into two groups, whereby two sessions have to be introduced: a morning and an afternoon session. This will not just employ many unemployed qualified teachers, but it will also enable a Namibian child to have access to quality education," said Joyce Liswaniso, the National Chairperson of the Unemployed Teachers Committee.

The group served the government an ultimatum: that should they not receive a response within 72 hours, they intend to camp outside of the ministry's headquarters until their demands are met. 

Receiving the petition on behalf of the ministry was Executive Director Gerard Vries.

"Thank you for bringing the petition to the ministry. I must inform you that yesterday we also met with your leadership, and we received the petition, and we acknowledge it and will communicate subsequently. Now, regarding the proposed camping that you mentioned, you must follow all the legal framework that is in place before you get to that point."

Vries invited seven members of the Unemployed Teachers Committee to the boardroom for a closed-door meeting, where they were to discuss necessary steps towards reaching an agreement. 

Similar demonstrations took place today in the Oshana and Ohangwena regions.