Teachers happy with results

THE Khomas branch of the Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) says it is “extremely gratified” by the results obtained by Grade 10 and 12 pupils last year.

Nantu Khomas branch information secretary Ronald Somaeb said although the ideal situation would be to have all Grade 10 students progress to the next grade and a vast number qualifying for tertiary education, the union was happy with the results. “The long-term planning, management and control by the upper management level in the Ministry [of Education] should be improved to address the fate of these learners that could not come up the mast [make the grade],” he said.Only an estimated 3 393 of the 14 319 full-time Grade 12 students who wrote the IGCSE exams last year qualified for admission to the Polytechnic of Namibia and the University of Namibia, while a staggering 17 158 out of 31 493 full-time Grade 10 pupils failed to progress to the next grade and have not returned to formal classrooms this year.Somaeb blamed various factors for the results but called on teachers to improve their performance.”The buck always starts and stops with the teachers and it is our professional obligation to redouble our efforts and maintain sound professional standards for the sake of the noble profession,” Somaeb said.He said many teachers taught their classes under trees and were suffering because of inadequate living conditions and continuous stress because of a lack of textbooks and other materials.He said many teachers in rural areas had to make do with little but their pupils’ performances in their final exams compared well to those at well-equipped schools.To encourage their members, the Khomas regional leaders of Nantu have decided to introduce an award for top-performing teachers.Somaeb said the union would launch the award, aimed at pushing teachers towards exceptional results, in October.Nantu also welcomed the gradual implementation of pre-primary education in the formal education sector.The union said lack of a proper foundation contributed to poor results at higher levels.”The long-term planning, management and control by the upper management level in the Ministry [of Education] should be improved to address the fate of these learners that could not come up the mast [make the grade],” he said.Only an estimated 3 393 of the 14 319 full-time Grade 12 students who wrote the IGCSE exams last year qualified for admission to the Polytechnic of Namibia and the University of Namibia, while a staggering 17 158 out of 31 493 full-time Grade 10 pupils failed to progress to the next grade and have not returned to formal classrooms this year.Somaeb blamed various factors for the results but called on teachers to improve their performance.”The buck always starts and stops with the teachers and it is our professional obligation to redouble our efforts and maintain sound professional standards for the sake of the noble profession,” Somaeb said.He said many teachers taught their classes under trees and were suffering because of inadequate living conditions and continuous stress because of a lack of textbooks and other materials.He said many teachers in rural areas had to make do with little but their pupils’ performances in their final exams compared well to those at well-equipped schools.To encourage their members, the Khomas regional leaders of Nantu have decided to introduce an award for top-performing teachers.Somaeb said the union would launch the award, aimed at pushing teachers towards exceptional results, in October.Nantu also welcomed the gradual implementation of pre-primary education in the formal education sector.The union said lack of a proper foundation contributed to poor results at higher levels.