By William Mbangula
OSHAKATI
The Director of Education in Oshana, Dutte Shinyemba, has warned teachers not to practise reverse discrimination against boys in the process of empowering girls.
Officially opening a career fair at Valombola Vocational Training Institute recently, Shinyemba urged teachers to balance their approach in the process of empowering girls and ensuring their success.
She said teachers should not lose sight of the interests and capabilities of boys which might result in their marginalization.
“Therefore, teachers should learn to balance their approach and be open to include both sexes in the projects and programmes. Boys and girls should respect each other’s strengths, intellectual abilities and potential for success.”
Shinyemba said this year’s theme of the HIV/AIDS Awareness Week was: ‘Respect Your Partner’s Decision and Stay Safe’.
“It has become customary that our career fair also focuses on the issue of HIV/AIDS as it has such an impact on education and our lives in general. Though it may not be part of our culture to bring such topics to light, the current HIV/AIDS epidemic begs us to act swiftly and appropriately.
“People still find it exceedingly distasteful and discomforting to talk openly about HIV/AIDS. As educators, we should not be seen as being silent on the topic, and we cannot pretend as if the pandemic does not have an impact on our teaching and learning processes,” she said.
She said it had been recognized that violence against women was a key driver of increased risk and vulnerability of HIV infection among African women. Such violent activities against women should be condemned, hence the call for learners to refrain from criminal activities.
On education and career, Shinyemba said making career choices was an important decision which should not intimidate the learners since there was plenty of help and advice available.
“It is by knowing what you want in life that you set goals, match your career choice with your personal values and abilities and so set yourself up to get what you want most. It all starts with your desire to learn and, fuelled by your motivation, it continues throughout your life.”
The three-day career fair was held under the theme: ‘Planning My Future Now’.
It took place for the first time in 1997 and has been conducted in the Valombola Centre since 2000.
School Counsellor in Oshana Region and convener, Sanet Cloete, said the aim of the fair was to provide learners with the chance to find out more about diverse career prospects, job opportunities, bursaries and loans.
About 1 000 learners from 63 combined and secondary schools in rural and urban centres visited the fair.
Cloete said that although the number of participants this year had declined, the quality of the event and and its significance remained very promising. About 62 institutions were invited, of which only seven had responded and participated.
The event was mainly sponsored by UNICEF to the tune of N$18 000, with the support of the Namibia Red Cross, Oshakati Town Council, Namibia Housing Enterprise (NHE), Namibia Brewery, Nampost and Nampower.