WINDHOEK: A petition seeking to change the rules of the Government Institutions’ Pension Fund (GIPF) to make room for members to benefit from its surpluses, is in circulation for signatures.

Adeline Black, who is the chairperson of the Committee of Public Servants, told Nampa in an interview yesterday that members are not benefitting fully in terms of loans from the fund while they are still employed.

Black said loans are available for members at a rate of 16 per cent, which is too high for members, adding that the GIPF is dishing out loans to companies, while its members are starving.

On public servants seeking membership on the GIPF board, Black said it should change to achieve equal representation between Government, as the employer, and its employees contributing to the fund.

Black said they want consultations to take place regarding the operations of the GIPF, as currently members are kept in the dark and are not informed about the decisions taken.

WINDHOEK; The Director of Science and Technology in the Ministry of Education says professors in Namibia spend most of their time lecturing on undergraduate level, and limited time is allocated to them to carry out research.

Alfred van Kent, who was speaking at the University of Namibia (Unam)’s Research Day in the capital yesterday said on top of this, professors also spend a lot of their time and energy on writing proposals in order to attract funding.

This he said is a challenge, noting that professors have to spend more time on research in order to increase the country’s doctoral output.

Government has however come up with a number of strategies to address these challenges.

These strategies include the fourth National Development Plan (NDP4) through which the ministry is developing a science system that is premised on efficiency and effectiveness of resource use.

The science system will enhance coordination and communication between researchers and scientists.