Ernastu Shiifoleni, a 27-year-old public and motivational speaker with an Honours Degree in Senior Primary Education from the University of Namibia, is making an impact on the lives of learners in the Ohangwena region.

He started motivational speaking in 2019 in his first year at Unam, encouraging fellow students at the university. 

Concerned about the decline in school discipline following the ban on corporal punishment, Shiifoleni embarked on a mission to motivate and encourage students. Once he got approval from the Ohangwena education directorate, he visited numerous schools, including P.H Mwandingi Junior Secondary School, Oluhapa Combined School, and Opipya Primary School.

“I appreciate the office of the director’s fast approval and for disseminating my request to all the circuits in Ohangwena, an approach that made it easy for my request to reach a wide range of prospective audiences,” he said. 

During his visits, he emphasised the importance of discipline, and the invaluable opportunity education provides. He highlighted the detrimental effects of late preparation and lack of parental involvement on academic performance.

To further spread his message, Shiifoleni conducted interviews with NBC’s KATI FM, discussing topics such as learner preparedness, parental involvement and community contributions to education, particularly as learners prepared for the 2024 national examinations.

“On many accounts, I stressed the importance of discipline in education, reminding learners
that being in schools is a golden opportunity given to them by the government to shape their future, and determine how they want their future to be.”  At the beginning of the year, he wishes to inform the nation that he does this at a free cost for schools. 

“As I am planning to extend my God-given wisdom to the nearby regions Oshana, Oshikoto and Omusati, I am appealing to Namibians at large to come forth and give our endless support to the education sector in whatever way we can,” Shiifoleni said. 

In 2017, corporal punishment was banned in school. Corporal punishment in all public schools was declared unconstitutional by the Namibian Supreme Court in 1991.

The court ruled that corporal punishment by organs of State is a violation of the right to dignity, and a form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. The court did not consider the constitutionality of corporal punishment in private schools.

The Education Act 16 of 2001 says teachers or any other persons employed at a State school or hostel, or a private school or hostel, commit “misconduct” if they impose or administer corporal punishment to a pupil in the course of their official duties. It also says that such misconduct will be grounds for disciplinary action in terms of the Labour Act. -pmukokobi@nepc.com.na