Part-time students perform worse

THE Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) says part-time candidates who sat for the NSSC examinations at the end of last year performed slightly poorer than in the previous year.

In 2008, 83,2 per cent NSSC subject entries were graded compared to 82 per cent in 2009. ‘Over the years, part-time candidates have maintained a gradual increase in the number of graded entries. However, during the 2009 national examinations we have noticed a slight decrease in terms of graded entries,’ said Namcol Director Heroldt Murangi. He said this called for new strategies to improve the results. He said Namcol was aware of certain factors that had contributed to the decline in performance in 2009, one being that students did not attend face-to-face contact sessions.’A study we conducted last year to determine the correlation between class attendance and examination results clearly shows that in areas where learners had a more than 50 per cent support through contact sessions, their examination results were better than those in areas where poor attendance took place,’ he said. This year, Namcol will distribute old question papers with model answers for English and Accounting to Grade 12 pupils to help them prepare for examinations.It will also deploy programme developers to the regions to have information sessions with tutors and students. The college also plans to engage youth leaders, especially from the National Youth Council (NYC) and other student bodies, to deliver motivational talks to pupils.’In addition, Namcol has intensified the provision of its learner support through radio and television lessons, additional contact sessions for both grades and extra resource material for Grade 10 learners,’ said Murangi.