Quality of education slides

THE Grade 12 results for 2013 show that the quality of education has deteriorated, since more pupils are wedged between Grades D and G.

Of the 19 500 full-time pupils, only about 7 300 qualify for university. Minister of Education David Namwandi announced the results yesterday where he also revealed that there is a trend, over the past three years, which shows that more matriculants are obtaining D to F symbols, while those obtaining A to C have decreased.

The latest statistics show that 12 200 school leavers from a total of 19 501 full-time matriculants, will not make it to the country’s top educational institutions such as the University of Namibian and Polytechnic of Namibia.

The 7 300 is a decrease from 7 500 out of 19 027, who sat for last year’s exam. Statistics also show that only 3 640 of the 17 255 made it in 2009, while 3 629 qualified for further studies in 2008.

Namwandi, however, believes that the number will go up from 3 500 to 10 800 with the inclusion of part time candidates.

To qualify for admission to universities in Namibia, a candidate should be graded in English and must have a minimum of 25 points.

According to statistics, those who were graded A* decreased from 0.4% last year to 0,3% this year, while those who obtained A’s also went down from 0,4 % to 0,2%. The results of those who obtained B symbols remained at 5%, and C holders decreased from 16,8% to 16,7 %.

The statistics show that the total number of pupils who obtained A*s last year are 385; 1 221 A’s; 4 709 Bs and 14 038 Cs.

Statistics also show how symbols D to G have dominated results over the last three years. The class of 2013 obtained 34, 5% Ds which is more than the previous year’s 33.9%, while 56, 5% obtained Es, an increase from 56, 3% of the previous year.

Matriculants with a grade F increased from 77% to 77,3 %.

The numbers also show that symbol G remained at 89,7% for the second year running. There are 19 744 pupils who obtained D’s, 22 005 Es, 19 540 Fs, and 11 142 Gs.

Meanwhile, performance per region indicates that Erongo Region has maintained its dominance, scooping position number one for the second consecutive year, with Oshikoto Region coming second, and Otjozondjupa, which moved five places up, third. Ohangwena and Kavango are fourth and fifth respectively. Khomas Region moved one place up to sixth position, while Hardap dropped three places to eighth.

Omusati occupied eighth position, followed by Omaheke, Karas, Oshana, Kunene and Zambezi Region, which dropped nine places to 13th position.

The top performing schools of the class of 2013 are dominated by church-run schools – St Boniface College at the top; St Paul’s College, second; Elcin Nkurenkuru, third; and Canisianum Roman Catholic High School, fourth. Negumbo Secondary School is fifth.

The rest of the top 10 includes Gobabis Gymnasium at sixth position; Oshigambo Senior Secondary School; Windhoek Gymnasium; debutant Juuso Shikongo Secondary School and Delta Secondary School at 10th position.

New kid on the block, Heroes Combined School made its debut last year by clinching the 11th position, followed by Otjiwarongo Secondary School, Duneside Private School, Namib High School, Gabriel Taapopi Senior Secondary School, Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School, the University Centre for Studies in Namibia (TUCSIN), Karibib Private School (KPS), Walvis Bay Private School and St Joseph’s Roman Catholic School.

Eight of the best 10 performing pupils came from St Boniface College, which has dominated the top spots for over a decade now, and was topped by Elsy Muyoba. The other two are from Immanuel Shifidi at eighth position and Otjiwarongo Secondary School at 10th.

St Boniface College pupils, namely James Kamonga and Given Joao, are the two best overall performers this year. St Boniface College principal, Mary Phillis Yesudasan, said there is a need for public schools to focus on commitment, discipline, implementation of goals and monitoring and evaluation.

Yesudasan yesterday said commitment from pupils, teachers and pupils is vital. For instance, she said, due to commitment, teachers at the school she leads work until 22:30. She said she was ready to assist other schools to improve their results, but she could only do much since the implementation is done by respective schools.

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