Educator misconduct : a study of labour relations in public schools in Namibia

Abstract

During the past number of years the press in Namibia has been regularly publishing reports linking educators to some unacceptable conduct. The apparent increase in the frequency of educator misconduct coupled with relevant research in education law prompted this research to be carried out. Recent research shows that good labour relations promote mutual respect between employer and employee. In education, the good labour relations help to promote the achievement of the national goals on education. The aim of this research was to determine the nature and frequency of educator misconduct in public or government schools in Namibia. The research was also conducted to establish the extent to which educator misconduct affected learning and teaching in the schools as well as the effects on the wellbeing of the learners and other stakeholders in education. It was also aimed in this research to analyse the respective roles of those individuals, organisations or bodies, such as teacher unions, who are responsible for the management of educator misconduct. The findings from the review of policy documents, text books, journal articles and newspaper articles and the empirical research pointed out a high frequency of educator misconduct. Participants recommended that the supervisors and the employers have to do much more to curb the upsurge of educator misconduct. Educator misconduct was blamed for harmful effects to the learning and teaching of learners, as well as the wellbeing of other stakeholders. The research revealed that legislation plays an important role in the management of educator misconduct. Being consistent with the guidelines from legislation, jurisprudence and the common law regarding management of educator misconduct was established to be essential to ensure fairness to both learners and educators.