Equity, Access Are Necessary

Equity, Access Are Necessary

I WOULD like to give my opinions on the speech or rather the comments made by the Minister of Education, Nangolo Mbumba in The New Era of tuesday, 17 January 2006, about the appointment of school principals.

In his comments Mbumba said that the principals should be appointed on a five-year contract. This, he said, is made with the aim of improving the quality of education in Namibia.I think Mbumba is saying this because of frustration with the poor results experienced by most grade 10s in schools in 2005.However he should have thought first before making such an amazing and unnusual decision (or rather suggestion) in the media.In my own opinion (and possibly that of other Namibians) there is a lot to be done before such a decision is implemented.The Ministry must make sure that it takes two of its four goals of education, which are “equity” and “access” seriously.These goals are not seriously looked at by Mbumba’s Ministry.I am saying this because if one really compares rural schools with urban schools, one can conclude that there is a very big discrepancy as far as access to teaching materials, infrastructure and even the Ministry’s attention is concerned.Urban schools are better off than rural schools and they make up less than 40% of the schools in Namibia.These urban schools normally perform well because of the said reasons, but they are too few to reach the Ministry’s target.If Mbumba wants to bring about the said changes, he and his Ministry must make sure that all schools in Namibia have access to everything that is available to urban schools.Who knows whether a certain school is performing poorly because of whatever reason? Even the Minister does not know, if he can be honest enough to admit it.Will this system really improve the quality of education or worsen it? I know for certain that Mbumba knows that development cannot come overnight, that is why he said in his speech that the government cannot achieve everything in a short period.Does he think principals who lead schools are machines to improve school results overnight, or does he think the people who are at the top government structure are slow? He must know that everything is worked out step-by-step and it is therefore vital that he consider this in the case of the principals as well.He must not mistake political appointments with academic ones, as there is a big difference between the two.He must also know that if such a practice comes in force, he will blame himself at the end of the day, as this will only lead to destruction of the education system, because he cannot expect the principal to improve the school within five years.There is also a possibility that he has not brought a big improvement in the former Ministry of Finance, where he served for more than five years! Now, where would those principals go after the expiry of their five-year contract? In the streets, or become ordinary teachers? Minister Mbumba, we know that you are frustrated, but before you worsen the frustrations that will result from your decision, do something.Make sure that access and equity are seriously looked at.Do not just do things for the sake thereof.Think properly as an academic and not only as a politician.There is still a lot that you must look at before you take action.One more point of concern is the process followed by many of our schools whereby only high achievers are accepted and yet those same schools are praised and given plenty of assistances and donations with reasons that they are producing best results.How on earth does one expect these schools to perform poorly if they are screening, taking the best learners while leaving poor and slow learners out!.Instead, assistance should be given to poorly performing schools in order to encourage teachers and learners to do their work better.The Ministry is not giving an ear to such a concern but it knows that! Teacher Okahao Note: Name and address provided – EdThis, he said, is made with the aim of improving the quality of education in Namibia.I think Mbumba is saying this because of frustration with the poor results experienced by most grade 10s in schools in 2005.However he should have thought first before making such an amazing and unnusual decision (or rather suggestion) in the media.In my own opinion (and possibly that of other Namibians) there is a lot to be done before such a decision is implemented.The Ministry must make sure that it takes two of its four goals of education, which are “equity” and “access” seriously.These goals are not seriously looked at by Mbumba’s Ministry.I am saying this because if one really compares rural schools with urban schools, one can conclude that there is a very big discrepancy as far as access to teaching materials, infrastructure and even the Ministry’s attention is concerned.Urban schools are better off than rural schools and they make up less than 40% of the schools in Namibia.These urban schools normally perform well because of the said reasons, but they are too few to reach the Ministry’s target.If Mbumba wants to bring about the said changes, he and his Ministry must make sure that all schools in Namibia have access to everything that is available to urban schools.Who knows whether a certain school is performing poorly because of whatever reason? Even the Minister does not know, if he can be honest enough to admit it.Will this system really improve the quality of education or worsen it? I know for certain that Mbumba knows that development cannot come overnight, that is why he said in his speech that the government cannot achieve everything in a short period.Does he think principals who lead schools are machines to improve school results overnight, or does he think the people who are at the top government structure are slow? He must know that everything is worked out step-by-step and it is therefore vital that he consider this in the case of the principals as well.He must not mistake political appointments with academic ones, as there is a big difference between the two.He must also know that if such a practice comes in force, he will blame himself at the end of the day, as this will only lead to destruction of the education system, because he cannot expect the principal to improve the school within five years.There is also a possibility that he has not brought a big improvement in the former Ministry of Finance, where he served for more than five years! Now, where would those principals go after the expiry of their five-year contract? In the streets, or become ordinary teachers? Minister Mbumba, we know that you are frustrated, but before you worsen the frustrations that will result from your decision, do something.Make sure that access and equity are seriously looked at.Do not just do things for the sake thereof.Think properly as an academic and not only as a politician.There is still a lot that you must look at before you take action.One more point of concern is the process followed by many of our schools whereby only high achievers are accepted and yet those same schools are praised and given plenty of assistances and donations with reasons that they are producing best results.How on earth does one expect these schools to perform poorly if they are screening, taking the best learners while leaving poor and slow learners out!.Instead, assistance should be given to poorly performing schools in order to encourage teachers and learners to do their work better.The Ministry is not giving an ear to such a concern but it knows that! Teacher Okahao Note: Name and address provided – Ed

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