By Sabina Elago
WINDHOEK– “I was voted because teachers sees potential in me and asked me to campaign for LRC. I am punctual, dedicated and hard working, so my positive influence among other learners makes me deserve this position as a head girl. I have what it take to be a leader as I am obedient, positive and determined to succeed,” says the Head Girl of the Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School in Windhoek’s Katutura residential area, Ailili Mbonga.
Ailili is one of the members of the school’s Learners Representative Committee (LRC). She says learners that do not obey school rules is one the challenges they face every day as LRC. “We deal with some and those we cannot handle we give to the principal. Any schools without LRC will be worse as teachers cannot put up order on their own, they needs LRC help. I am an agent to others as I strive very high to help them,” Mbonga affirms their important role as learner leaders at the school.
Head Boy, Yerome Piet Boois, says teachers and learners saw confidence in him and voted for him as Head Boy. “The fact that I am confident, willing, honest and have guts, made me believe I have leadership skills within me and I deserve to be leading my school as a Head Boy. Smoking on school premises and lack of respect for the LRC are some of the challenges the LRC face. “We give them some punishment and those we cannot handle we send them to the principal. I do what I am expected to do and that is representing other learners. I believe LRCs are important to schools because we are the learners’ mouthpiece and any school will be worse off without the LRC. We have no boundary coming to working together with our school management as they share with us confidential information. I am always there for other learners and my council, so that makes me their agent,” says the Head Boy
Anny Loon Hoffmann who is responsible for entertainment on the LRC of the same school, Immanuel Shifidi, says she has been elected in this portfolio for her interest in entertainment. “Though I am more into my school work I deserve being in this department as I am very fast at organising and I have the mind and ability to entertain people. I have leadership skill, as I am honest, faithful, hardworking, persistent and confident and that plays a role in my appointment,” she justifies her appointment. She cites the disobedience of school rules as one the challenges they face. “My responsibility is to make sure I am always on time, I supervise other learners and I always make sure I am at school. Our council is important to the school as it is made up of smart and confident people and we are a huge inspiration to other learners. There is no way any school will be well-off without the LRC because we represent them and some learners are more comfortable with us then with teachers and we are there when teachers are not. We work well together with the school management, there is no boundary.”
Education Officer Candy Hambira, is not quite sure what qualities led to her election but says she enjoys the position but affirms as among her best leadership qualities punctuality, confidence and discipline. “These are very important to a leader as it is called leading by example. We face challenges from different learners and you sometime one do not even know how to handle them,” says she. She adds that LRCs are important at schools because schools not having them are like organisations without leaders and those are lost organisation that will need supervision “and no school will be well off without LRC because teachers alone cannot take care of the whole school. I am an agent to others because I lead by example to others and take up their issue to the principal and teachers”.
Elizabeth Rui Joao, a Treasurer, admits to have been voted because “I was naughty and I use to be a bully and teachers use to complain a lot about me. So I think the school voted for me so I can change,” confirms she adding nevertheless that she deserve being a treasure because she is doing accounting and thus proclaim herself to know how to deal with money. “ I have leadership quality as I know how to deal with conflict and I have communication skills. Having these leadership qualities help me carries out my responsibility. It helps me do the budget very well and it helps me think positively about myself and others and it brings out the desire of giving in me.” As an LRC Joao says they especially face challenges with o boys who always wants to break the school rules “but we always find a way to seat them down.” She says she carries out her role very well as she tries to balance her school work and her LRC’s responsibilities. Likes her fellow LRC members she emphasises the importance of an LRC “as some learners are more comfortable with us then with teachers, so we are the learners’ mouthpiece to teacher and no school will be well off without an LRC as teachers can only take care of certain classes but not the whole school on their own”. She says learners coming with problems from their houses to school are the most challenging “and we handle them by talking to them and identify their problems so that we can help them. We work well together with the school management”.
“My friend voted for me. I fit in my position as I am an athlete and I also play netball and I am committed to my responsibility. Knowing how to deal with emotional learners help me lead others and this is why I was voted and half of the school knows me so this also played a role, “ enters Uahengisa Tjozongoro, the LRC member responsible for Sport and Culture. “Leaders do not give up, you push till you get there, and this is how a real and true leader should be an example to others,” she philosophises about leadership. Learners destroying school property and lack of respect are the foremost challenge they face as LRC. “LRC is an inspiration to other learners and it put up order in schools and no school will be well off without it.”