Namcol expects 27 000 to enrol

THE Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) expects to enrol 27 000 students this year.

Study material for students has already been dispatched to Namcol’s regional offices. The Acting Director of Namcol, Jerry Beukes, said on Tuesday that the 27 000 figure was based on enrolment figures from the past three years.However, he added, “should the situation … dictate otherwise and if more than 27 000 learners wish to enrol, we will have to revise our plans to provide for these learners.This would have high cost implications for Namcol”.Enrolment started on Monday, January 19, and will end on Friday, February 27.Addressing a press conference in Windhoek, Beukes urged students to enrol as soon as possible as “places might be limited for certain subjects at some centres”.Students attending classes at Namcol centres will be entitled to two hours of face-to-face tuition per subject each week.After the OPEN Mode of Study was introduced last year, face-to-face sessions were reduced to one a week.However, during 2003 parents, students and teachers complained about this and the hours for face-to-face sessions were put back to two a week.Previously, all students’ assignments were both set and marked at the Windhoek Head Office of Namcol.”The assignment marking process will be decentralised this year in order to ensure that tutors provide better support to our learners and to make it more attractive for tutors,” explained Beukes.Beukes said Mathematics and Physical Science would receive priority this year.With an eye to improving results in these subjects, Namcol will provide additional face-to-face tuition in these subjects at one centre in each of its four regions.Also, booklets containing questions and answers from past exam papers – usually sold at N$30 – will be free for students taking either of the target subjects.The fee structure for enrolment this year includes a N$25 non-refundable registration fee, N$70 per subject at Grade 10 level, and N$100 per subject at Grade 12 level.Beukes reminded students that enrolment with Namcol does not automatically include enrolment for final examinations.The Directorate of National Examinations and Assessment deals with these enrolments and will inform students about the dates and procedures for registration later this year.The Acting Director of Namcol, Jerry Beukes, said on Tuesday that the 27 000 figure was based on enrolment figures from the past three years. However, he added, “should the situation … dictate otherwise and if more than 27 000 learners wish to enrol, we will have to revise our plans to provide for these learners. This would have high cost implications for Namcol”. Enrolment started on Monday, January 19, and will end on Friday, February 27. Addressing a press conference in Windhoek, Beukes urged students to enrol as soon as possible as “places might be limited for certain subjects at some centres”. Students attending classes at Namcol centres will be entitled to two hours of face-to-face tuition per subject each week. After the OPEN Mode of Study was introduced last year, face-to-face sessions were reduced to one a week. However, during 2003 parents, students and teachers complained about this and the hours for face-to-face sessions were put back to two a week. Previously, all students’ assignments were both set and marked at the Windhoek Head Office of Namcol. “The assignment marking process will be decentralised this year in order to ensure that tutors provide better support to our learners and to make it more attractive for tutors,” explained Beukes. Beukes said Mathematics and Physical Science would receive priority this year. With an eye to improving results in these subjects, Namcol will provide additional face-to-face tuition in these subjects at one centre in each of its four regions. Also, booklets containing questions and answers from past exam papers – usually sold at N$30 – will be free for students taking either of the target subjects. The fee structure for enrolment this year includes a N$25 non-refundable registration fee, N$70 per subject at Grade 10 level, and N$100 per subject at Grade 12 level. Beukes reminded students that enrolment with Namcol does not automatically include enrolment for final examinations. The Directorate of National Examinations and Assessment deals with these enrolments and will inform students about the dates and procedures for registration later this year.