The Namibian

The NamibianThe WeekenderYouthPaperBack of the Book

Search Archive

Tue 13 Aug 2013
06:52Last update on: 13 Aug 2013

The Namibian
Tue 13 Aug 2013

News

Opinions

Sport

Business

Entertainment

Oshiwambo

Archive

Top Revs

Letters

News Opinions Sport Business Entertainment Oshiwambo Archive Top Revs Letters

SMS Of The Day * MINISTRY of Gender and Child Welfare, TEARS are rolling down as I write this SMS. The killing of women in Namibia is now like reciting a poem. Are we really getting the protection we deserve while women not being treated as part of this c
Food For Thought * SO the Zimbabwe elections were free and peaceful and not free and fair?
Bouquets And Brickbats * NURSES at Katutura Hospital must stop wearing those big plastic sandals at work because they are not the official working shoes. We want to see you looking smart and beautiful with your full uniform.
SMS Of The Day * THIS nation is in dire need of a massive conference on housing. When we experienced a crisis in the education sector a crisis-control brain-storming conference was organised which resulted in the best deal ever for the Namibian child, nam
Food For Thought * BOURGEOISIE has become a daily occupation if not the order of the day of the upper-echelons, President Hifikepunye Pohamba we urge you to revisit this unpatriotic geocentricism among your staff and the well-connected, for everybody to r
Bouquets And Brickbats * COMMISSIONER of Prisons, can you please explain the strategies you use to appoint officers to certain positions? It is my observation that you are being fed with wrong information then you just promote individuals without making p
SMS Of The Day * I THINK Paulus ‘The Rock’ Ambunda lost his belt because of this promoter and trainer. How can a world champion still be training at the Katutura Youth Complex where there is not enough equipment. I think they must follow the example of Ha
Food For Thought * NAMIBIA Dairies are unable to match low prices of imported milk and this ultimately means the consumer will have to pay more for local milk. Look at the prices of the local chicken. All these profits are going in the pockets of a few in
Bouquets And Brickbats * I AM pleased to hear that Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal of Namibia Dairies to support the industry. The restrictions which support the industry by reducing competition to ensure the survival of the industry is a
SMS Of The Day * CEO’s golden handshakes. Somewhere on our statute books there must be a provision that if a board of directors suspends/dismisses a CEO without due regard to legal provision (substantive/procedural law) such board must carry the costs for
Food For Thought * JACKY Asheeke was so right with her last column- why are the fathers of the dead children not being prosecuted? (Reference to the children who died in shack fires last week) Our justice system still protects men over women. In this cont
Bouquets And Brickbats * ALEXACTUS Kaure, your column in Friday’s newspaper opened my eyes. One hardly finds impartial case study analysers in Namibia. Let’s not destroy the Polytechnic’s strong foundation (Tjivikua) as yet. At least wait until the transf

POLL

What do you think of the renaming and addition of regions and constituencies?

Results so far:

Older Polls

NEWS - NAMIBIA | 2013-08-09

Cleophas Mutjavikua

Bring the Bible back to schools – Mutjavikua

Adam Hartman

ERONGO Governor, Cleophas Mutjavikua, says Namibia should bring back Bible studies to schools in order to win the war on the rampant abuse of women and children.

Addressing the 7th Women Summit in Swakopmund, Mutjavikua said demonstrations and lighting candles only show the problem.

“We need to find a strategy to solve this problem; not just talk about it,” he said at the opening of the Summit in the coastal town.

He said part of this strategy would be to reintroduce Bible studies in schools which were scrapped after Independence resulting in a notable decline in moral societal values.

“Children do not even go to church anymore. They grow up in front of the television and on cellphones,” he said.

His other strategy is to introduce a compulsory year of national service for school leavers whether they drop out at Grade 10 or finish Grade 12.

According to Mutjavikua, the national service would teach the young generation how to be responsible citizens.

“They leave school but have not been taught much on how to be responsible citizens. They don’t even know how to stand when singing the national anthem,” he said.

The summit president, Anne Gebhardt, told the delegates that there is a 50% share for their participation but that they should discuss how to be part of it.

“How will you get there. A 50% share is there. It’s reserved for you but where are you? Here we will discuss how you can be part of it,” said summit president, .

The summit’s theme this year is “Let Your Light Shine Through” and although there was a a slot on the programme to discuss personal and family life and the challenges women face as well as the success and freedoms they enjoy, the event was more inclined for business networking and development.

Comment on this article

Latest comments

It is a positive thinking, to at least feed the new generation spiritually. However, Bible study must start in the house, with families. As for Erongo Region in general, I suggest that more churches are erected, in stead of the Regional Liquor Board approving liquor licences, which applicants think is the only way of generating money. No, it is only generating poverty, family break-ups, unemployment, violence within families, violation of women and even minor girls. Alcohol is the biggest culprit to be fought down, as it creates low marals, low esteem, stupedity, un-wanted behaviour......... - Jacobus Viljoen

Religion should never be merged with school, it creates yet another way to segregate learners based on religious views and this cannot happen. I am disappointed that the governor has suggested that a decline in children attending church has caused moral decline in society, speech like this only shows that he is intolerant of others' beliefs and wants to force religion upon the youth- just like what was done during the dark ages. Its important to respect all views, theist or non-theist, because ultimately it is ones own decision to behave in a manner which pleases him/her and one cant use religion as a scape-goat for such behaviour. If you need religion to keep you in check then you need to re-evaluate yourself. Seriously, with mindsets like this one can assume that if god was completely proven not to exist people would go about raping, killing and stealing because they no longer have religion to hold them back. Together as the new generation, lets build a Namibia in which all citizens are tolerant of each other, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation etc. Let us be an example to the rest of the world that harmony can be experienced on earth and not only in the pages of religious scripture. And this shouldn't happen only because we are "peaceful loving christians/muslims/hindus etc" but rather as good people, who are at peace regardless of religious belief. - Paul

I support the ho.G overnor of Erongo , since the independence of Namibia community is living without God and did not know how to obey the Bible rules and to live with others in piece, all what they know is to fight and kill learning fron the movies and TV. - rukeeveni Haakuria

Dear Bitterpoep, this is to correct you about hon. Mutjavikua's statement, which as far as I can remember is the second one this year. He is obviously having his nation at heart.The issue of teaching moral education is practice in schools.The subject is part of the curiiculum for grades 1-10.If it is not taught, we can blame it on schools.I am speaking from the perspective of a teacher educator, who have been teaching the subject to student teachers at the former colleges.My experience is that not all students were taking the subject serious, probably due to a negative attitude towards religion in some of them. The fact remains, training for the subject RME is there for students, even in the current B.Ed program.Where there is a will there will be a way - KaTangi

Cleophas thats the first sensefull thing you ever said !! - Bitterpoep

I am feeling pity for those who do not know yet that the Religious and Moral Education subject is existing in the National Curriculum. However, the problem is with our lack of understanding and fears especially among the national leaders. This subject therefore had been neglected since not even a syllabus was developed neither teachers were trained to teach the subject. Therefore, those of us who are still against the teaching of religious in Namibian schools are far away from world of modifying our young citizen's behaviours. Furthermore, I don't see any difference between the religions that are existing so far particularly in Namibia. The philosophy of religions is the same and it aims at one thing which is human lives and then facilitate these lives through enabling a human being to live in harmony, at peace and love other human beings. When we are talkng about religious study in our schools we mean teaching all religions. This therefore, will open the eyes of the children to realize that wherever one is going there are ethical rules, regulations, principles and values that are meant to guide people in life. I therefore, supporting the call of the honourable Governor. His call is not there to be criticised but to be supplemented with concrete ideas that will take us move ahead. We the members of pubplic are good at criticise but never fuel up with constructive alternatives. Not necessary to say the teaching of Bible, but I am saying the teaching of Religions in schools will make a difference among ourselves, which will change our behaviours to better especially among the young once. - Fillemon Z. Iyambo

Mr. Cleophas Mutjavikua belongs to the people who don't understand modern society, also that religion or faith has anything to do with morals. The prisons are full of good Christians. The morals of the Bible are very questionable, except that they train for servile subjects (which seems to be his political agenda). The only thing which will improve the behaviour of the Namibian youth is to give them a perspective and hope here on earth instead of heaven ( a place too far away from Erongo) - Jochen Becker

What about my kid who is Muslem, where do i stand in this situation? - Ann-Marie

It is every parent`s wish and desire to give their children the best life they ever had. But parents have to differentiate what “best life” encompasses. We are having good morals because we were brought up differently than how we are parenting our children. The laws interfere with parenting putting us in fear of even punishing our children when they do something wrong. I took Biblical studies from Sub A to STD 6. I went to church every Sunday with my family and I thought my father was mean for not letting me do what I wanted. Today I know that I had good parenting. I am an ethical person with great values in our society; I have respect for everyone which I learnt from the word of wisdom at Okatana JP, SP and St. Josephs High. As evident, biblical study shape us to be good people in our communities and superb father and mothers who love family. That caring, respect and love we learn will make ethical individuals with skills to build our country. - Tate Kandido

i totaly agree with the governer that the bible should be brought back to schools, maybe than can we have some love for each other and end tribalism in our country and learn how to live as a one nation. - Ndamona