Hardap needs more qualified teachers for Afrikaans, Khoekhoegowab

Hardap education director Gerhard Ndafenongo is calling for more qualified teachers to apply for Afrikaans and Khoekhoegowab teaching positions in the region.

“We are struggling with qualified teachers here. Qualified teachers should assist in Afrikaans and Khoekhoegowab from pre-primary and throughout. It is a major problem,” he said yesterday.

Ndafenongo said the region requires numerous teachers, and the situation has been ongoing for some time.

“A lot is needed for this year. We have advertised close to 193 positions, and every year it is the same thing. Some teachers are not qualified, they are temporary. You have to advertise again and again,” he said.

Ndafenongo urged parents and other stakeholders to come on board and encourage teachers to provide quality education.

RENOVATIONS

The education director also called on businesses to assist in renovating schools.

“I urge corporate companies to assist with renovating one or two schools, because they have been constructed by the previous government and have become a cause for concern,” he said.

Ndafenongo said the directorate does not have sufficient resources for renovations.

“For example, a block at Rehoboth High that accomodates boys has been closed, and that is to the disadvantage of the children. It cannot be used. It is dilapidated and renovations would require a lot of money.

“If you look at the hostel at Dr Lemmer, it is severely dilapidated, but there are no resources to renovate these and many other facilities at schools in the region,” he said.

Ndafenongo said the boys’ hostel at Mariental is also in poor condition.

The director said the region is well prepared for the placement of pupils.

“Naturally, the population in the Hardap region is not too large to cause admission problems.

“It has been manageable for many years, especially on the western side where schools are empty. It is only at the towns that we sometimes encounter a few pupils not being placed, but it is not a major problem,” he said.

The newly constructructed /Anes Secondary School at Rehoboth would accommodate a number of pupils.