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Home / Strong education foundation essential – Haufiku
Strong education foundation essential – Haufiku
2016-10-06Staff Report 2 Eenhana Councillor for Eenhana Constituency Udeiko Haufiku says top of his list of priorities is to establish at least one kindergarten in each village to ensure learners have a strong educational foundation, which will in the long run contribute to development at constituency level. Haufiku said establishing a strong educational foundation from the onset of the learner’s school career would aid in reducing the high unemployment rate and enhance the development potential of the constituency. “If we have learners that are fully equipped then we will also see a reduction in the high failure rate, especially in grades 10 and 12, where many do not make it,” Haufiku opined during a recent interview with New Era. Last year altogether 17 000 learners failed Grade 10, with only 54.1 percent qualifying for admission to Grade 11. In response, Haufiku pleaded with parents to enroll their school-leaving children at vocational institutions so they can gain skills to sustain themselves. “If the children did not meet the requirements to go to higher institutions, before you permit them to go look for jobs, encourage them to acquire skills,” he advised. He further said Namibia is in dire need of skilled personnel, but believes the problem can only be overcome if school-leaving learners are encouraged to go for vocational training. Haufiku added that acquiring vocational skills would enable school-leavers to start their own businesses to sustain themselves and in turn contribute to the country’s economy. He said government has created a conducive environment for business to flourish and has put in place programmes to assist upcoming entrepreneurs to kickstart their businesses. Meanwhile, the constituency - with the assistance of Ohangwena Regional Council - is also on task to construct additional schools to reduce the vast distances travelled daily by learners on their way to and from school. According to Haufiku, there are learners who travel up to six kilometres to school on foot, thus covering a total distance of 12 kilometres a day. In addition, the construction of health facilities has also been prioritised, so as to make health services more readily accessible to the residents of the area. 2016-10-06Staff Report 2
