Schools in NC spotlight

A SWAPO MP from the Ohangwena Region wants the Ministry of Education to expand Namibia College of Open Learning (Namcol) centres in the country.

John Nakwafila was speaking in the National Council during debate on the N$3,7 billion allocated to the Ministry of Education in the 2007-2008 Budget. Nakwafila said in his region there were very few Namcol centres, which forced many students to study far away from home, where they ended up living in squatter shacks.He was also not pleased with the way literacy promoters are treated by the Ministry.Nakwafila alleged that literacy promoters don’t get their salaries on time, unlike regional and district literacy organisers.”The whole process is so bureaucratic and cumbersome.This leads to the poor promoters to suffer,” he said.Swapo’s Willem Appollus claimed that there were no incentives for pupils in the Karas Region to perform to the best of their abilities.”They don’t see any future.Why should I study while the only future I see is unemployment,” said Appollus.He said this has led to drug and alcohol abuse among young people in the Karas Region.But, in an apparent contradiction, Appollus said he firmly believed that students did not fail because of a lack of commitment on the part of the Ministry of Education.”I know that I will be crucified for making such a statement, but I have watched and observed learners in Grade 10 and 12 during their so-called block time,” Appollus told the House.He said although this is a crucial time for pupils to revise and prepare for the year-end examinations, they are roaming the streets and partying it up at dance halls, where they abuse drugs and alcohol.In his contribution, Leonard Mwilima (Swapo) said the teaching of mathematics and science needed more attention.Mwilima said in the past these subjects where reserved for the minority few based on racial lines, as the majority blacks were thought to be not good enough to study them.He called on the Ministry of Education to improve the working conditions of teachers, especially when it comes to housing.”At some schools, teachers find themselves in dilapidated houses,” he said.Nakwafila said in his region there were very few Namcol centres, which forced many students to study far away from home, where they ended up living in squatter shacks.He was also not pleased with the way literacy promoters are treated by the Ministry.Nakwafila alleged that literacy promoters don’t get their salaries on time, unlike regional and district literacy organisers.”The whole process is so bureaucratic and cumbersome.This leads to the poor promoters to suffer,” he said.Swapo’s Willem Appollus claimed that there were no incentives for pupils in the Karas Region to perform to the best of their abilities.”They don’t see any future.Why should I study while the only future I see is unemployment,” said Appollus.He said this has led to drug and alcohol abuse among young people in the Karas Region.But, in an apparent contradiction, Appollus said he firmly believed that students did not fail because of a lack of commitment on the part of the Ministry of Education.”I know that I will be crucified for making such a statement, but I have watched and observed learners in Grade 10 and 12 during their so-called block time,” Appollus told the House.He said although this is a crucial time for pupils to revise and prepare for the year-end examinations, they are roaming the streets and partying it up at dance halls, where they abuse drugs and alcohol.In his contribution, Leonard Mwilima (Swapo) said the teaching of mathematics and science needed more attention.Mwilima said in the past these subjects where reserved for the minority few based on racial lines, as the majority blacks were thought to be not good enough to study them.He called on the Ministry of Education to improve the working conditions of teachers, especially when it comes to housing.”At some schools, teachers find themselves in dilapidated houses,” he said.