Lahja Nashuuta

Examination period is a stressful period for students. Performance anxiety, self-doubt, and the rush to complete the portion before the exams add to the nervousness and lead to exhaustion.

Besides that, mental fatigue coupled with physical exhaustion from studying for extended periods can take a toll on the students and affect their performance and results.

This observation was made by Angelinu Nsamba, the English teacher at Tuguva Combined School.

In an interview with New Era this week, Nsamba reminded parents of the vital role they play in their children’s education and the need for them to provide their children with the necessary support to go on to achieve their maximum potential.

He further implores pupils to take their studies seriously and to find a study buddy to work with.  He said this could be a good way to hold themselves accountable and keep tabs on how well they are focusing on their studies.

“I want to use this opportunity to urge our learners to make the most of every opportunity available and to apply themselves vigorously, especially in the subjects with which they struggle in order to achieve academic success,” said Nsamba.

Born and raised in Mukekete Kavango West region, Nsamba is not an infant to the public service.  He got his first taste of civil service public service in 2017 after obtaining a degree in education from the University of Namibia as a teacher.

“I joined the public service on 1 March 2017. Before that, I worked in a construction company. I also worked for NamPower for a year and two months on a contract basis,” Nsamba revealed. 

The Tuguva Combined School, situated in Kavango West near the Katwitwi border in the Mpungu Circuit, accommodates 342 learners from grade 0 to nine.

As a language teacher, Nsamba is responsible for teaching English (grades four to nine).  

“Our dues are much more than standing at the front of a classroom and delivering lessons. We are second parents to children: influential figures with whom they spend an immeasurable amount of time during their most formative years. Behind the scenes, a lot of work goes into planning and preparing for lessons and providing additional support to students,” he said.

Nsamba reveals that he joined the public service because he wanted to plough back to the government.

“I joined the civil servant at the behest and caprice of my passion to give back to the government for every opportunity granted to me throughout my schooling, I could not think of a better way to give back to the government than to contribute to efficient service delivery and taking ownership of all programmes that would contribute to a better depiction of services provided by civil servants,” Nsamba maintained.

According to him, in a country where applicants outnumber teaching positions by a very substantial margin, he feels lucky to have gotten a job. “Besides that, I’ve always wanted to work with young people and as a teacher, my responsibilities are to positively contribute to the future of this country through education,” he said. Nsamba who also worked as school library teacher since 2018, attributes his good fortune to his qualification and expertise in education that he obtained from the University of Namibia.  

Questioned how his expertise was beneficial to the public service, more especially to the ministry, Nsamba had this to say “I am an active contributor to our school’s extra-curricular activities. My involvement in sports coordination has created a healthy and competitive environment for our learners.”

Besides that, Nsamba is responsible for coordinating and organising English club sessions, coordinating school debates, spelling competitions, reading sessions, and public speaking events at the school.

“These activities have not only enriched our learners’ educational experiences but have also boosted their confidence and communication skills. As library teacher since 2018, I have nurtured a culture of reading and literacy among our learners. My efforts in maintaining an engaging and resourceful library have been highly appreciated by both learners and staff,” he narrated.

There is no job without challenges and for Nsamba some of the neglected challenges being faced by many schools includes teacher and learner ratios in schools, and lack of teaching resources such as books.

When asked about the public misconception that civil servants are largely unproductive and inefficient, Nsamba expressed his serious disagreement.

“I do not agree with that statement. It is a stereotype. Personally, I have strived through the years to do and be the best at what I do. Every job given is done efficiently and effectively,” he maintained.