… education dreams shatteredSTUDENTS who enrolled at the Namibia College of Open Learning (Namcol) under the mature age category say their registration was cancelled because of them not having grade 10 certificates.
They found this out after they were not allowed to register for examinations.
The students said they went through the enrolment process, but when they had to pay for examination registration fees, they were rejected.
A student affected by the situation, who declined to be named, said after they were rejected they were told to fill in cancellation forms for the subjects they’d enrolled for.
“They asked us to cancel the subjects and handed us back our registration money and told us we will be refunded the enrollment money,” she said.
According to the students they were told they could not register, as they do not have grade 10 certificates.
“They did not state that you need to have a grade 10 certificate to register for mature age entry,” she said.
She said the decision shattered her dreams of continuing with her studies.
“I finally thought I’d gotten a second chance at bettering myself and now I am back to square one.” she said.
Namcol spokesperson Freddy Kaukungua said the decision not to register the students was taken by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture.
“It was not Namcol’s decision not to let the students register for examinations. Namcol is not in charge of that; that is under the education ministry,” Kaukungua said.
He explained that Namcol allows mature age entry students to enroll after they have been assessed and found to be capable.
When questioned, the education ministry examination office said they would respond, but failed to do so.
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