The Ministry of Education has announced that the incoming Grade 11 learners of 2022 (Grade 10 cohort of 2021) who meet the promotion requirements will only return to schools and hostels once the examinations are completed.

Thus, they will only return to the hostel on 23 January and resume school on 24 January.

This is to accommodate Grade 11 learners (2021 cohort) who are expected to commence their examinations next week - in the hostels.

Speaking to New Era, education executive director Sanet Steenkamp said the hostels’ capacity cannot make provision for both cohorts, hence the decision to postpone the return of the new Grade 11 learners.

“Special arrangements have been made to allow the affected Grade 11 cohort of hostel boarders of 2021 to return to their hostels already as from Friday. This is to allow the hostel boarders to settle in smoothly and to start their preparations for the examinations,” Steenkamp stated.

She, however, clarified that this is not compulsory for the specific group of boarders if the parents/guardians cannot drop off the learners earlier than the initial date of 9 January for all boarders or in instances where parents/guardians prefer their child (-ren) to only commute from home to school to write the affected examination papers.

Steenkamp also noted that no hostel fee would be charged for Grade 11s who are writing the examinations.

Hostel staff members are also encouraged to ready themselves and prepare the facilities accordingly.

In addition, the resumption date for the Advance Subsidiary Level learners (Grade 11 cohort 2021 who meet the promotion requirements) will depend on the release of the examination results and will therefore be communicated in due course.

All other grades (pre-primary to Grade 9) are expected to return to the hostels on Sunday and resume classes next week Monday.

- ashikololo@nepc.com.na