Alvenus F Dreyer
During her closing remarks, Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Anna Nghipondoka sternly told teachers to stop defending themselves and start defending learners. This, the minister said during a stakeholders’ meeting, where she officially announced the 2022 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary and the Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level results at Eenhana.
What was clear from the minister’s take on education in Namibia is that drastic measures must be taken to safeguard teaching and learning. Throughout her deliberations, the minister was shocked and disappointed with the 2022 results. What was even more shocking to the minister was that the 2021 Covid-19-infested academic year results were much better, compared to Covid-19-free face-to-face teaching for 2022.
Under grades (U) increased with some percentages, compared to the 2021 academic calendar year. The minister even made reference to some rural schools, which are under-resourced (equipped), but have better or even the best results, compared to urban or semi-urban schools with better infrastructure and resources. At the end of the day, no matter where the school is located, whether the school is private or public, the curriculum and syllabuses are the same.
Teaching must improve
With descent salaries, the availability of information technology (IT), teacher accommodation and learning material such as study boards etc, the Namibian child deserves better. The core business of the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, according to the minister, is to teach and learn.
Thus, for stakeholders, and in particular teachers, principals and education officers (directors) to perhaps misunderstand the “core” very important fundamental national issue of “education” is of great concern.
A very important point of note the minister, who, by the way is also a trained teacher herself, raised, is the fact that teachers are holders of degrees obtained from accredited higher institutions of learning. This means teachers have the best of brains and are sharp- minded, so why not help the Namibian child in getting the best educational results?
The absence of HODs at some schools, the so-called blockages/constipations in the system, and some teachers engaging in political activities must never be the reason/s or excuses for not delivering a service one is duly rewarded for.
By the way, what happened to this wonderful profession being described as a calling, something you wake up to every day, showing it your love, passion, dedication and enjoyment?
All stakeholders, including parents and caregivers, are urged to get back to the drawing board and commit themselves, irrespective of individual and/or any other personnel differences, and uphold the core business of education in Namibia – this core business being “teaching and learning”.