Teachers in Politics: Impact of Political Party Membership on Teachers’ Freedom and Stability. The Case of Nigste-Saba High School, Adwa, Tigray, Ethiopia.

Abstract

This study attempted to explore the main influences of politics on teacher’s academic freedom and on the independence of academic institutions. The general objective of this study was assessing the impact of political party membership among teachers on their freedom in the study area. Nigste Saba is a model high school which is selected purposefully from the total three high schools in Adwa town. The study explored the influence difference made on the teachers who are members of the ruling political party and non-members. Moreover, it explored the influence of the woreda on the school and teachers’ academic freedom by using census method (86 teacher respondents). The study finds that majority (62.2 percent) of teachers in the school are not members to any political party since they hate politics. But they are obliged to join the ruling party directly or indirectly. Majority of the teachers (68.9 percent) agreed that members of the ruling party get priority in getting benefits from the school. The school is turned in to a center of politics instead of academics. Moreover, the main influences made on teachers who are not member of the ruling party are: intimidated by the school director, intimidated by the woreda educational office, neglected from trainings, victimized during promotion, transfer and other service related issues, delayed documents in transferring from one to another work place and exposed to lack of transparency. Furthermore, the members of the ruling party have also influences such as expending more time to political issues, de-motivated   to teach accurately and loose freedom. All these make teachers to hate their profession in the school. In addition, the study finds that in average one teacher who is member of the ruling party paid up to 3 percent of their monthly salary to the party. In general, there is treatment difference between teachers who are members to the ruling party and those who are not. Moreover, Political interference in the affairs of an educational institution destroys teachers’ freedom and education quality. Freeing schools from political intervention to do their academic issues independently can sustain academic freedom and quality of education.  Furthermore, the discrimination between members of the ruling party and nonmembers should avoid.

Key words: Politics, political party, membership, academic freedom, EPRDF, teachers, influence.