Failure rocked her to the core. “I was used to my study routine at boarding school, so moving from Da-Palm Secondary School to Usakos Secondary School really unsettled me as it was a day school.“I had people around me who supported me and told me I still had many options,” she says.Aochamus scored 18 points in Grade 11, and therefore could not pursue a bachelor's degree, so she decided to improve her grades through the National Academic Training College (NATC).NATC secretary Charles Malichi says the college offers grades 11 and 12 under the new curriculum.“Together with a statement of your results, bring along a copy of your ID card and a passport photo to register,” he says.Another option is to register at a vocational training college (VTC). VTCs offer a wide range of technical programmes that equip individuals to become professional tradesmen and artisans.Clocknet Vocational Training Centre is one of many VTCs in Namibia. The centre's head of student support, Rejoyce Ambata, says the centre's minimum entry requirements are 18 points and an E for English.“Because we have two campuses currently, the courses vary from campus to campus. But in Windhoek, we have office administration, clothing production, electronics, and counselling services. At Okahao we have hospitality, carpentry and joinery, and plumbing,” she says.Several universities, including the University of Namibia (Unam), offer a wide range of certificates and diplomas with more lenient entry requirements.Margareth-Rose Kangootui, assistant spokesperson at Unam, says the university offers prospective students a number of bridging courses. “These courses provide prospective students with the necessary help to meet the requirements for admission to a degree programme. The courses are English access, the science foundation programme, and the pre-engineering programme,” she says.In addition, some diploma programmes serve as preparation for degrees. “The minimum admission requirement for a diploma programme is 22 points in five subjects on the Unam Evaluation Point Scale. Once students have completed a diploma programme they qualify to apply for a degree programme,” she says. Given these options failing Grade 11 is not the end of the road, but a junction that leads to several other routes. – Afterbreak Magazine
