The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture says the reintroduced trimester system is improving learning outcomes, although concerns remain over safety and access for some pupils.
Minister Sanet Steenkamp says the decision to return to the trimester system follows requests from school management, parents and teachers, with the aim of shorter learning teaching cycles and better focus for teachers.
When it was discontinued, the ministry faced a lot of learning loss.
“Now we have a better rhythm with meaningful breaks, avoiding pressure and congestion and space to intervene and teacher capacity development,” she says.
Steenkamp adds that children will be home for the May break as the winter season uproaches.
“Until faced with any barrier, we will continue with the trimester system for the next three years as we have so far not heard any complaints and the system is working well,” she says.
A Shipena Secondary School principal Moses Haufiku has expressed support for the trimester system, saying: “We favour this system more and seeing that, for instance with the month of May, it has a lot of public holidays so not much teaching is done.
It is good that the month is a holiday.’’
“With the three terms, the children and teachers rest well and encourage teaching, learning and good discipline.
However, we worry about the Khomas region and urban migration.
You have children who are enrolled mid-year, making it difficult for them to catch up but it is manageable.’’
Meanwhile, Havana Primary School teacher Meriam Tjemba raises concern about pupils returning to schools over the winter season.
“Pupils walk in unsafe river beds to get to school on time and it is cold.
Yes, the system is working academically but in terms of safety, which is just as important for children in the rural areas, I believe the ministry should look into it,’’ Tjemba says.
The ministry says it is hoping for improvement in results for the coming academic years.
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