Ministry of Education responds

* THE Ministry of Education has taken time out to respond to a number of the complaints about the Education Sector, which have been SMSed to The Namibian:

* PRESIDENT Pohamba once said that “It’s either we are failing to plan or planning to fail”. It is now evident that they are failing to plan. How could they just decide to have the Grade 10 failures to repeat without proper planning prior to the decision? Surely! The GRN has successfully failed to plan. The Ministry of Education has allowed Grade 10 learners of 2007 who were not admitted to Grade 11 in 2008 to repeat grade 10 in 2008 on a full-time basis depending on the availability of spaces, furniture, textbooks, stationeries and other supplies. The Ministry of Education is also expected to provide extra equipments. Regional Education Directors are expected to make use of existing facilities or any other safe facilities available, to enable such full-time repetition, including double shifts. Where new teachers are required, they should be recruited as soon as possible for immediate deployment. Only qualified teachers are to be recruited. Other options available include institutions such as the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL), Community Skills and Development Centres (COSDEC’s), Vocational Training Centres (VTC’s), Skills Centres and Youth Centres. * I WOULD like the Ministry of Education and Nantu to tell us why they recognise some of Azalia College qualifications and not others. The Ministry of Education only recognises qualifications of Azalia College that were obtained during the grace period that was provided by the Ministry; this period was from 1996 to March 1999. The Ministry does not recognise any qualification obtained outside this period. Contact NANTU for more information.Yours in Education – Public Relations Office* I WOULD like the Ministry of Education and Nantu to tell us why they recognise some of Azalia College qualifications and not others. The Ministry of Education only recognises qualifications of Azalia College that were obtained during the grace period that was provided by the Ministry; this period was from 1996 to March 1999. The Ministry does not recognise any qualification obtained outside this period. Contact NANTU for more information. Yours in Education – Public Relations Office