Windhoek
Over 4 000 Grade 10 learners registered with the Namibian College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) failed to sit for the national examinations in the subjects they had registered for, NAMCOL director Heroldt Murangi revealed this week.
Murangi told New Era in an exclusive interview yesterday that 4 661 candidates out of 10 754 learners Grade 10 learners at NAMCOL failed to write their final examinations last year.
Although some Grade 12 learners also failed to write examinations at the institution, he could not provide the exact figure. The trend, he added, is a concern that the institution is addressing.
“Murangi gets the blame that students did not perform well, but you have 4 661 candidates who were given books and lessons throughout the year, but they did not go and write the examinations,” he said.
He noted that parents and learners alike have the responsibility to ensure that learners perform well in their studies and, above all, show up for the examinations.
He said although the learners failed to show up for the examinations some still return to NAMCOL in the hope of registering again.
“These same learners come to us and want to come and take the places of those students who are serious. We don’t know the reasons why they don’t turn up. They go register for the examination, but then fail to sit for the examinations. Or if a specific subject has two subjects they will go and write one paper and fail to write the other paper,” he explained.
He said the institution has prepared 27 325 study packs and that close to 13 000 learners will be admitted to Grade 10 at the institution, this year. About 27 000 learners are expected to be admitted to the institution for Grade 12 this year.
“That is a big number. There is no other institution in this country that has those numbers of learners and because of that high number we have many challenges,” Murangi added.
Enrolment at NAMCOL started on Monday at more than 130 enrolment points countrywide. Unlike in the past where it took place over a six-week period enrolment will as from this year only take place over a period of one month. “We want to use more time for tuition so that we are not blamed in the end,” Murangi explained.