Last year November, the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture declared Grades 11 and 12 examinations as null and void - due to leaked examination papers. As a result, the ministry ordered learners to rewrite the leaked subjects. This dilemma does not sit well with most education stakeholders. It is really a thorn in the flesh. Like it’s comically trending on social media “from chilling with big boys to examinations”. As a matter of fact, these learners seem not to be psychologically and morally ready for the ongoing examinations. But, they have no choice - it is a do or die game!

There’s an Oshiwambo adage that says “ontelekulula iha yi dhogo.” It literally translates that a repeated recipe does not taste exactly as the initial one. To juxtapose this, when learners wrote their normal examination, they were sharpened and psychologically ready to perform fruitfully - unlike now when they are going for a rewrite. Their academic performance, zeal and morale would be negatively affected and would never be the same like they had planned it last year. Like it is commonly said, the “first cut is always the deepest.”

Imagine, learners coming from a long festive holiday - with a myriad of entertainment activities such as sports tournaments, weddings, leisure, clubbing, etc, and eventually they are expected to switch their minds to examinations or school in general. The cumbersome part about the rewrite is that schools were closed and learners did not have access to school grounds to use the facilities to study because some learners study better at school than at home, given that some homes are not conducive for studying. To make matters worse, learners have a tendency of dishing out their studying resources when they are done writing - I really don’t know how they are going to retrieve back their studying resources for them to study. Honestly, it would not be easy for them. Moreover, some learners have handed in their textbooks, therefore could not prepare well for a rewrite. Also, school management should not get perplexed when they come across learners going to write examinations without school uniforms because some learners have sold or given out their school uniforms to the young ones, or even have spoiled them, like they habitually do. Do you expect parents or learners to go and buy a new school uniform, just for a two-weeks examination? 

There is an Oshiwambo idiom that says “kakala i ya tondoka manga inaadhengwa.” It literally translates that a motor lizard hardly runs, unless it is hit. This should be a very good learning point as well as a wake-up call for the Ministry of Education to go back to the drawing board to discuss and strategise on how they should strictly avoid the leaking of question papers, and most importantly how they should tackle this dilemma if it happens again in future. From my humble opinion, the ministry should come up with contingency plans in case the papers get leaked again. They should set two question papers for each subject (a normal and supplementary paper), and store them in different ‘baskets’ out of reach. Like it is commonly said, do not keep all your eggs in one basket. This would help if normal examination papers get leaked, and the schools could then simply resort to the supplementary papers.I certainly know that some teachers or people in the examination monitoring authority were, one way or another, involved in this conundrum. It’s indeed a disgrace to betray a Namibian child and the teaching profession - a noble profession for which you took an oath and pledged to render quality education and uphold academic integrity. Whoever leaked the examination papers, wherever they are, should know that they have compromised the quality of education, and they have academically killed the dreams of Namibian children. Therefore, they should face the wrath of the law.  In conclusion, it took PLAN fighters many years while sacrificing their precious lives - crossing crocodile-infested rivers and thick forests teeming with wild animals - but their ultimate aim was to fight for independence, and they subsequently got it. Similarly, learners should not be disillusioned, and must soldier on and put themselves in the shoes of the liberation strugglers. There are no other options, but to be up against all odds and study hard. I have a Godly faith in them; they will pass and pursue their dreams. All the best!

* Tomas Nehale 

A concerned teacher