I AM a dedicated teacher, a parent and a patriot.I believe that education is the key to a successful life.
But when I see hundreds of learners who studied very hard to pass Grade 10 and cannot find space in a school, let alone a school with subjects of their choice, I feel very bad. The Ministry of Education has been facing the same lack of space in Grades 1, 8 and 11.More than 2 000 learners are without space in Grade 11 in the four northern regions.Is it always going to be like this? Why? What has the Ministry done all these years about it? Does the Ministry really plan? If so, what type of planning is it? The pass rate in Grade 10 is even below 50% but the Ministry cannot cope.What will the Ministry do if more than 60% of learners pass Grade 10 next year? The Father of the Namibian Nation and other national leaders are always saying that learners must take science subjects in schools.In response, many learners are now taking Science and Maths.But without a school that offers the subject of their choice in Grade 11, there is less hope for producing our own scientists.I heard that learners who are not placed will be sent to other regions were there is classroom space.What does this mean? I think it means that learners will be thrown away into the wild because they have no other options.This means learners from as far as Ohangwena or Caprivi Region can be sent to Karas or Omaheke Region without any space for accommodation, no matter how old they are; whether they have money to go or know anybody there.What kind of public education is this? Does the Ministry really know what they are doing? I have seen many learners suffering, being humiliated and being forced into sexual activities.This may lead to HIV-AIDS infections amongst them.Female learners especially, are more vulnerable to this scenario.The increased inability of the Government to accommodate all learners who pass Grade 10 in the formal education sector worries and discourages teachers, parents and learners to some extent.Why work hard? Even though space in Grade 11 won’t be available.Government talks of Namcol as an alternative.Yes, it is an alternative but it does not offer all subjects available to fulltime pupils.It is also unaffordable for the poor.Instead of sending my daughter who is 17 years old far away, I strongly believe that: Government should provide financial assistance to poor learners to study through Namcol locally; money should be made available to immediately implement afternoon classes with a different group of teachers.Lastly, I urge the Government through the Ministry of Education to do research on how countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and others deal with this perennial case and improve in future.Teacher/Parent WindhoekThe Ministry of Education has been facing the same lack of space in Grades 1, 8 and 11.More than 2 000 learners are without space in Grade 11 in the four northern regions.Is it always going to be like this? Why? What has the Ministry done all these years about it? Does the Ministry really plan? If so, what type of planning is it? The pass rate in Grade 10 is even below 50% but the Ministry cannot cope.What will the Ministry do if more than 60% of learners pass Grade 10 next year? The Father of the Namibian Nation and other national leaders are always saying that learners must take science subjects in schools.In response, many learners are now taking Science and Maths.But without a school that offers the subject of their choice in Grade 11, there is less hope for producing our own scientists.I heard that learners who are not placed will be sent to other regions were there is classroom space.What does this mean? I think it means that learners will be thrown away into the wild because they have no other options.This means learners from as far as Ohangwena or Caprivi Region can be sent to Karas or Omaheke Region without any space for accommodation, no matter how old they are; whether they have money to go or know anybody there.What kind of public education is this? Does the Ministry really know what they are doing? I have seen many learners suffering, being humiliated and being forced into sexual activities.This may lead to HIV-AIDS infections amongst them.Female learners especially, are more vulnerable to this scenario.The increased inability of the Government to accommodate all learners who pass Grade 10 in the formal education sector worries and discourages teachers, parents and learners to some extent.Why work hard? Even though space in Grade 11 won’t be available.Government talks of Namcol as an alternative.Yes, it is an alternative but it does not offer all subjects available to fulltime pupils.It is also unaffordable for the poor.Instead of sending my daughter who is 17 years old far away, I strongly believe that: Government should provide financial assistance to poor learners to study through Namcol locally; money should be made available to immediately implement afternoon classes with a different group of teachers.Lastly, I urge the Government through the Ministry of Education to do research on how countries such as South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and others deal with this perennial case and improve in future.Teacher/Parent Windhoek
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