Erongo Region teachers take stock of challenges

ABSENT teachers and a communication gap between parents and educators have been highlighted as obstacles that hamper successful education in the Erongo Region.

Speaking at a meeting with school principals and heads of departments in the region last week, Erongo Governor Samuel Nuuyoma said teachers are increasingly absent from school without good reason or authorisation. He said this contributes to poor performance by pupils as well as teachers.”When teachers are absent, children can’t follow the programme according to the syllabus, they struggle to finish their work in time and are ill-prepared for their examination.”Nuuyoma ascribed bad results also to a lack of communication between teachers and parents.”Often parents don’t know anything about their children’s education before they receive the report at the end of the term.Children are aware of this and they abuse the situation.They take chances and get away with it,” Nuuyoma said.”When parents need to sign a letter or homework, the learners sign it themselves.”He said both the school and parents should have the children’s best interest at heart and a healthy relationship should be maintained throughout the year to ensure progress and achievements.Parents who don’t attend school meetings should be approached individually so that they do not become isolated from taking part in their children’s’ education, the Governor said.”We are here to build the nation, therefore we must also discipline and educate the parents.”The Ministry of Works was fiercely criticised at the meeting.”It is the most ineffective department in Government,” said one principal.A round of applause from his colleagues spurred him on: “When we report issues that need to be addressed by them, we get no reply.We need to know what is happening, even if nothing is happening, but they just don’t seem to care.”Nuuyoma said many officials in the Department of Works had resigned, retired or been transferred recently.Similar difficulties were being experienced throughout the country and not only in the Erongo Region, he said.According to him, the Ministry was aware of the dissatisfaction with its performance.He said a reshuffle underway in the Ministry might soon lead to positive changes.Teachers were concerned that pupils progress to a next grade although they have not mastered even the most basic skills covered in their previous grade.Drug trafficking at schools was also mentioned as an increasing threat.”Drugs are becoming part of learners’ lifestyle,” said a principal.”The Police should get involved and be more pro-active in preventing this.”At the meeting teachers spoke of their frustration with being made the scapegoats every year for pupils’ poor examination results.”Every year fingers are pointed at the teachers.Even the bodies that represent teachers don’t react to these accusations.When will the work that teachers do be appreciated?” a woman asked.The Governor replied: “Unfortunately it is true that one is appreciated only after one dies.When you are dead, people will talk about your contributions and praise your work.Don’t surrender,” he said.”These things [accusations] happen behind your back and you should only look forward.”The school-feeding programme also drew criticism.One headmaster said schools in other regions had received their supplies while some in the Erongo region had received nothing this year.He said food support was not allocated according to need.”Some big schools charge N$2 000 per child per year and yet they get more support from Government while they are in a position to manage on their own.”Municipalities in the region came under fire for charging schools unacceptably high fees for the use of public sport grounds.The principal of a secondary school in Swakopmund complained about newly appointed teachers who don’t show up to assume their duties.”We are advertising a vacant position for the fourth time now.None of those teachers who were appointed previously turned up.”Nuuyoma announced that he would sponsor two floating trophies to be awarded to the primary and secondary schools with the best achievements at the end of each year.”The schools that show the best overall performance will receive the trophies,” he said.He said this contributes to poor performance by pupils as well as teachers.”When teachers are absent, children can’t follow the programme according to the syllabus, they struggle to finish their work in time and are ill-prepared for their examination.”Nuuyoma ascribed bad results also to a lack of communication between teachers and parents.”Often parents don’t know anything about their children’s education before they receive the report at the end of the term.Children are aware of this and they abuse the situation.They take chances and get away with it,” Nuuyoma said.”When parents need to sign a letter or homework, the learners sign it themselves.”He said both the school and parents should have the children’s best interest at heart and a healthy relationship should be maintained throughout the year to ensure progress and achievements.Parents who don’t attend school meetings should be approached individually so that they do not become isolated from taking part in their children’s’ education, the Governor said.”We are here to build the nation, therefore we must also discipline and educate the parents.”The Ministry of Works was fiercely criticised at the meeting.”It is the most ineffective department in Government,” said one principal.A round of applause from his colleagues spurred him on: “When we report issues that need to be addressed by them, we get no reply.We need to know what is happening, even if nothing is happening, but they just don’t seem to care.”Nuuyoma said many officials in the Department of Works had resigned, retired or been transferred recently.Similar difficulties were being experienced throughout the country and not only in the Erongo Region, he said.According to him, the Ministry was aware of the dissatisfaction with its performance.He said a reshuffle underway in the Ministry might soon lead to positive changes.Teachers were concerned that pupils progress to a next grade although they have not mastered even the most basic skills covered in their previous grade.Drug trafficking at schools was also mentioned as an increasing threat.”Drugs are becoming part of learners’ lifestyle,” said a principal.”The Police should get involved and be more pro-active in preventing this.”At the meeting teachers spoke of their frustration with being made the scapegoats every year for pupils’ poor examination results.”Every year fingers are pointed at the teachers.Even the bodies that represent teachers don’t react to these accusations.When will the work that teachers do be appreciated?” a woman asked.The Governor replied: “Unfortunately it is true that one is appreciated only after one dies.When you are dead, people will talk about your contributions and praise your work.Don’t surrender,” he said.”These things [accusations] happen behind your back and you should only look forward.”The school-feeding programme also drew criticism.One headmaster said schools in other regions had received their supplies while some in the Erongo region had received nothing this year.He said food support was not allocated according to need.”Some big schools charge N$2 000 per child per year and yet they get more support from Government while they are in a position to manage on their own.”Municipalities in the region came under fire for charging schools unacceptably high fees for the use of public sport grounds.The principal of a secondary school in Swakopmund complained about newly appointed teachers who don’t show up to assume their duties.”We are advertising a vacant position for the fourth time now.None of those teachers who were appointed previously turned up.”Nuuyoma announced that he would sponsor two floating trophies to be awarded to the primary and secondary schools with the best achievements at the end of each year.”The schools that show the best overall performance will receive the trophies,” he said.