"For now, we propose that the status quo be maintained and to give enough time for the preparation of this policy review," TUN President Gert Jansen said last week.

Earlier this month, Education Minister Nangolo Mbumba announced that Grade 10 failures would be allowed to return to school.

However, a week later, the Under Secretary for Formal Education, Alfred Ilukena, sent out a memo to all regional education directors stating that because of limited space and resources, "only where a place is available in a school will any Grade 10 repeater be allowed to repeat".

TUN agrees that there was a lot of confusion throughout the country.

Jansen said the best would be for Government to maintain the status quo - that of keeping overage repeaters out of full-time school while a policy is formulated and other technical issues sorted out.

"The long-term solution policy for Grade 10 has to be accompanied by building schools, additional classrooms, recruiting additional teachers and review of the whole basic education curriculum," Jansen told a media briefing.

He said technical subjects and agriculture also needed to be introduced at elementary level.

"It is high time for us as a nation to become serious and be guided by set policies and proper planning, [rather] than being guided by individuals' feelings, which lead for the programmes to be changed haphazardly," Jansen said.

Around 16 000 pupils failed Grade 10 last year and hoped to return to formal education when the announcement was initially made by Mbumba and repeated by President Hifikepunye Pohamba at a Swapo political rally in Walvis Bay.

In sharp contrast, Ilukena said "nothing has changed" and "the normal procedures which have been applied over the years in this regard will still have to be adhered to".

Ilukena said the impression that all Grade 10 failures would be allowed back into formal education was wrong and the Ministry was working on a "different strategy" to solve that problem.

"All those Grade 10 repeaters currently seeking places in formal schools based on the announcement/decision should be advised to seek admission with Namcol, as has been the case before.

This Ministry in consultation with Namcol will endeavour to increase face-to-face contact sessions including holiday classes to be held three times a year for such learners," Ilukena said.

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