By Obrein Simasiku
WINDHOEK – Learners at Sesheke Combined School in Zambezi Region where all the 51 students who sat for Grade 12 in 2014 failed with dismal symbols attributed the high failure rate to a lack of resources and the fact that they were taught by lower and upper primary school teachers.
The 51 learners were the first group to do Grade 12 at the school since its inception in 2013.
A learner who spoke on condition of anonymity said that only the English and Silozi teachers were qualified to teach Grade 12. The rest of their teachers, the learner claims, were under-qualified at that level.
“For the rest of the other subjects we had no qualified teachers, while in some subjects such as physical science and mathematics we had no teacher at all,” lamented the learner.
She further stated they were required to buy their own books and chairs they used during classes.
“I don’t know why the ministry introduced Grade 12 classes yet they didn’t provide us with resources. Only those who repeated grades 11 and 12 were privileged to have a few textbooks but the rest of us had nothing,” she said.
The principal of Sesheke Secondary School, James Mapani, admitted the school is in dire need of resources and that the available ones cannot even cater for half of the learners.
“What learners are complaining about is true, indeed we have been without teachers in development studies, mathematics and physical science,” stated Mapani.
However when asked if the matter was reported to the responsible office he said both the education director and circuit inspector were aware of the issue.
“How come they don’t know about the dreadful situation we are in? I have been informing them but nothing happened to solve the problems. It is so embarrassing for me as the head of the school to yield such humiliating results,” said a disappointed Mapani.
Another challenge, he said, was the lack of control of learners as they live miles away in villages where they are scattered around renting small huts as they do not have accommodation.
“We totally don’t have control of the learners because we don’t know what they are doing once they are out there, thus there is no way we monitor them to see if they are really studying.”
Mapani said even though afternoon and evening studying sessions are in place, learners find it difficult to return to school as they come from far-flung areas and most of the time learners are hungry because of poverty and as a result there is high absenteeism at the rural school.
Mapani further called on the government to urgently assist the school with building a hostel, saying that way they can be able to control the learners.
With regard to the dire situation that hit the school last year, Mapani said they are solving the issue as they await two qualified teachers in physical science and development studies expected from Ohangwena Region.