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Unam rejects Grade 11 school-leavers, urges AS level for university readiness

University of Namibia (Unam) spokesperson Simon Namesho says the university will not accept Grade 11 school-leavers as they are not adequately prepared for university level education.

He was speaking to Desert FM on Thursday and said the university does not see their position as a contradiction to the basic education structure which has been in place for the past 43 years.

“When pupils finish Grade 11, they ought to be encouraged to continue to advanced subsidiary (AS) level so that they can be adequately prepared for university education,” he said.

Namesho said if students want to pursue university level education, they are encouraged to do AS level because it prepares you adequately for tertiary education.

He encouraged pupils who leave school in Grade 11 to apply to courses provided to them.

“I think after the reform of basic education, it has created two exit points which are grades 11 and 12 and I think it creates more choice for the pupils. . . If you want to exit at Grade 11, you are definitely more than welcome to do so and pursue opportunities that have been afforded to a Grade 11 certificate,” Namesho said.

According to him, the university has different pathways of entry.

One of them being the normal Grade 12 application which requires applicants to meet their basic university admission criteria. Another one is their mature age entry scheme, he said.

“We also have something called recognition for prior learning, and the fourth one is the Unam readiness programme. Then, lastly, we have something called special admission consideration,” Namesho said.

He said the Unam readiness programme is for those students who have attempted AS level, but might not have made it through.

“You have not made it, you have not passed, but at least you have attempted it, and you were in the class, you sat for that throughout that year and you’re exposed to AS level education. That’s what our Unam readiness programme is trying to do, it’s a bridging programme,” he said.

He said the special admission consideration looks at students who have done AS level but, however, missed the mark or did not achieve the required symbols.

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