Windhoek
The Namibian National Students Organisation (Nanso) Khomas regional executive committee is taking action against noise pollution emanating from shebeens, especially in Katutura, during the national examination period for grades 10 and 12.
As part of the Khomas Region Safe and Conducive Final Exam Study Campaign, the Nanso Khomas regional executive committee, in partnership with the Namibian Police Force and Windhoek City Police, is conducting patrols to regulate and control shebeens’ operating hours and the noise generated from jukeboxes.
“We aim to provide a friendly, safe and conducive environment at both homes and schools for our learners this year and years to come, which will improve the pass rate of Khomas Region in the national examinations and make Khomas perform great again,” said Nanso Khomas Region chairperson Simon Amunime.
Amunime said the campaign, which started last week, further seeks to solicit resources and support from the government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private companies for the purchase of portable solar lights for learners.
He said the focus would be on learners currently in grades 10 and 12 from Windhoek’s informal settlements, to enable them to study in the evening during their final exams.
“We will hand over some portable solar lights starting on Tuesday. The targets are the learners from schools located in Katutura and Khomasdal areas and those who stay in locations such as One Nation, Babylon, Havanna and Oshitenda where they have no direct access to electricity and use candles and paraffin to study, which results in students being unproductive and shacks burning down during the examination period,” he noted.
Amunime said the campaign also pleads with the management of public libraries, learners from other grades and university students to give preference to, and make way for, grade 10 and 12 learners for them to utilise public study facilities during the national exam period,“as their [those not in grade 10 and 12] exams will not be in full swing at the time”, and rather to make use of their institution’s study facilities.
He said education cannot be left to the government alone. Therefore, to improve educational standards, Nanso called on public-private partnerships to be formed to pool resources for the upliftment of all learners.
The campaign is aimed at sensitizing learners in grade 10 and 12 on the importance and impact of the examinations and to give them the final push in preparation of such examinations.
It also seeks to encourage hard work and evoke a positive attitude and state of mind for learners when facing external examinations.
He quoted the Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, as having said “the time for blaming one another has passed and everyone must reflect on their contribution to the children’s performance. We blame the education system without asking ourselves what role we have played in the academic lives of our learners.”
Nanso believes a friendly, supportive, safe and conducive study environment will enhance the chances of an improved performance for the Khomas Region in 2016 and years to come.
Over the past few years, the Khomas Region has been lagging behind when compared to rural schools in Oshana, Oshikoto, Ohangwena and Omusati.