Why Things Don’t Work

I AM referring to a letter that appeared in The Namibian newspaper of Friday, March 3 2006, in which Iita Dawid from Ongandjera spoke about the high failure rate in the northern schools.

Firstly, I want to thank Iita Dawid for taking such a brave decision to write to the newspaper and secondly I would thank him for realising that failure among learners is not only to be blamed on the teachers’ teaching abilities but also on the way the learners are handled in accordance with their results. In the previous weeks, another teacher from Okahao complained that some schools are practising a so-called screening system whereby only high achievers are picked and the rest dumped on other schools, resulting in some schools being regarded as high-performing schools while the “dustbin” schools are criticised and blamed for things that would not be if fairness was practised.I am happy to note that not only the teachers are experiencing this problem but also learners in schools can see and have realised that what is done is unfair and inhumane.Dawid, I thank you for being brave enough and for standing up and speaking for your rights and those of your fellow learners.We are expecting a lot from you and other learners in the country.Joel Katoma Epato Combined SchoolIn the previous weeks, another teacher from Okahao complained that some schools are practising a so-called screening system whereby only high achievers are picked and the rest dumped on other schools, resulting in some schools being regarded as high-performing schools while the “dustbin” schools are criticised and blamed for things that would not be if fairness was practised.I am happy to note that not only the teachers are experiencing this problem but also learners in schools can see and have realised that what is done is unfair and inhumane.Dawid, I thank you for being brave enough and for standing up and speaking for your rights and those of your fellow learners.We are expecting a lot from you and other learners in the country. Joel Katoma Epato Combined School