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GORDEN ORESEB LEARNER

12/01/23

Van Rhyn Primary School competition winners

The Zone

TWAPEWA HIDILEKO LEARNER

VEMUTJIUA KATJIVENA

News THURSDAY

RIVALDO DA COSTA LEARNER

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Coordinating Journalist: Michelline Nawatises • Tel (061) 297 2314 • E-mail: [email protected]

My name is Vemutjiua Katjivena a final-year student at NUST, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agriculture.

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Synergi Sales Manager: Carmen Stenger • Tel (061) 297 2102 • E-mail: [email protected]

ALZIERAH KAVANDJE LEARNER

ENRICHING THE TOURISM INDUSTRY

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Gen. Murtala Muhammed AVE • P.O. BOX 3436, Windhoek • Tel: (061) 297 2000 • Fax: (061) 223 721

Poor results: Covid, lack of resources not excuses Only 8 133 qualify for grade 12 A study indicated good performances in schools with resource shortages where management was well-executed. HENRIETTE LAMPRECHT

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PHOTO FREEPIK

nly 5 812 of the 38 019 full-time candidates who sat for the National Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) examination in 2022 qualify for further studies at a tertiary institution. Out of more than 38 000 full-time candidates, only 21.4% - 8 133 learners – qualified to enrol for grade 12 or the National Senior Certificate Advanced Level (NSSCAS) this year. This represents an increase of 2.6%. A disappointed minister of education, art and culture, Anna Nghipondoka, in a fiery message to teachers in particular, said it was very clear from the results that “effective and quality teaching” did not take place in many schools and by many teachers all over the country. Although the minister acknowledged the mark Covid-19 has left on the mastery of skills due to reduced teaching and learning time as well as a rationalised learning plan at different levels, according to her, this is not an excuse. She referred to a positive deviance study

which indicated good performances by schools with resource shortages where management was well-executed. These achievements were often better than at schools with the necessary resources, but which lacked adequate management. She admitted that due to a decrease in their budget, the ministry was also unable to fill all required positions for school and department heads, but emphasised that this is where the accountability of teachers comes in. “It’s not necessarily that a well-qualified and accountable teacher needs an inspector, school or head of department to play police man over their teaching,” she said. Nghipondoka added that the disruption due to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 after extended closures of schools has put a big damper on education. According to her, this put a ripple effect on the results of candidates who did not have education under normal conditions, including that 2022’s candidates came up short in 2020. This refers to those who were then in grade nine and the following year in grade 10 or 11 and progressed to grade 11 or 12 in 2022. In particular, she expressed her shock at the fact that 420 learners could not achieve any marks in the mathematics second paper. “We found that some learners could not even work out 10% of a given amount! Then I ask myself, what happened in those classes during their school career of 12 years?” Nghipondoka said it is very clear from the answer sets that some topics prescribed in certain subjects in the curriculum were not taught at all. “If this is what is happening in our schools, it must be stopped immediately.”

Sharp decline

The number of fulltime candidates (38 019) was a significant decrease of 8 958 compared to the 2021 group. T h e performance of learn-

ers in physics and biology improved, although the number of candidates achieving symbols in biology decreased. The national average performance in commercial subjects has improved drastically, largely due to good results in business studies, economics and entrepreneurship. Only accounting did not improve. Meanwhile, the average performance in all social science subjects, including geography, decreased slightly compared to the previous year. A* and A symbols are mostly similar to 2021, with only a 0.1% decrease. In language subjects, an average of 64% of candidates achieved a C symbol or higher for first languages. Candidates performed better in metal and woodwork and also office practice. The national average of candidates achieving symbols decreased by 0.7% compared to 2021. Part-time candidates who achieved D symbols totalled 43.3% - a huge decrease of 15.3% compared to the previous year. In total, 9 215 candidates registered for AS. Of these, 8 624 were full-time and 591 part-time. Performance in physics showed an improvement of 1.4% and 0.7% for A and B symbols respectively. An average of 81.2% of candidates achieved symbols, while 18.8% failed to achieve any symbol in certain subjects.

Leadership

Nghipondoka made a serious appeal to senior education officers and inspectors to fulfil their supervisory and advisory roles. She also urged directors to ensure all structures are in place for the ministry to ensure efficient and accountable service delivery at all schools. “Internal efficiency must be achieved through targeted interventions. Clear objectives must be used to hold teachers accountable.” The shortage of resources must be tackled through efforts that ensure internal efficiency in the use of materials, human resources as well as time, she said.

Outstanding performance

The national top candidates for NSSCAS are (one to 20): Max Feilmeier (Delta Secondary School Windhoek), Hendrik Smit (Walvis Bay Private School), Taro Samuelson (Windhoek Gymnasium), Augustinus Shivute (Onawa Secondary School), Daneel van der Walt (Windhoek Gymnasium), Di Christa Mahoro (Delta Secondary School Windhoek), Simon Velishavo (Rukonga Vision School), Enobong Akpabio (Reverend Juuso Shikongo Secondary School), Lucas Ndongo (St Boniface College), Faith Shimpanda (Oshigambo High School), Rhosta Lyatumba (Jan Möhr Secondary School), Shetu Amutenya (Rukonga Vision School), Kornelia Foloma (Rukonga Vision School), Al-Zarrio Beukes (Dr Lemmer High School), Pinehas Ngulu (Uukule Secondary School), Mioné Garbers (Windhoek Gymnasium), Engela Genis (Windhoek High School), Lesheni Haininga (Onawa Secondary School), Annel Liina Antonio (Oshigambo High School) and Hileni Ndafenongo (Rukonga Vision School). • THE TOP SCHOOLS IN THE COUNTRY ARE (ONE TO 20): St Boniface College, Oshigambo High School, Canisianum Roman Catholic High School, Karstveld Academy, Rukonga Vision School, Edugate Academy, Elcin Nkurenkuru High School, Erongo Karibib Private School, Onawa Senior Secondary School, Walvis Bay Private School, Windhoek Gymnasium, Otjiwarongo Secondary School, Gobabis ­Gymnasium, Christian Private School, Oshikoto Heroes’ Private School, St Joseph’s Roman Catholic High School, Rehoboth High School, Duneside High School and Reverend Juuso Shikongo Secondary School.

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The Zone

THURSDAY 12 JANUARY 2023

Vox pop

The Zone team took to Eros Primary School to find out what the learners will be looking forward to in the new school year.

ARJAN UAZEUA

I am most excited and ready to learn and further my knowledge as well as meet the new teachers and see what excitement they bring to the new subjects.

1st Prize Winners

Van Rhyn Primary School raffle competition winners Van Rhyn primary school hosted a raffle competition in which individuals stood a chance a brand new Renault Kwid Expression, A family weekend for four at the Erindi Lodge and a brand new Samsung Cell phone worth N$4500.00.

The following are the winners of the Competition 1st Prize Renault Kwid Expression Johannes & Judith Namhindi (The father &mother of Jayne Namhindi in grade 3) 2nd Prize Erindi Lodge (family

weekend for four) Sarlotte Amunyongi (The mother of Brasius Shimana in Grade 4) 3rd Prize Samsung Cellphone worth N$4500.00 Anadia Innes (Tulipamwe Construction & Engineering)

GORDEN ORESEB

I am excited about my new grade, I am officially a senior. I am excited to see new faces and see what new things my teachers will teach me. I am also really excited about embarking on this new journey as a grade seven learner.

CLINTON KASUTO

I am excited to meet my new teachers and make a lot of new friends this year. I am also ready to put in the work for the new year and study hard to achieve great results.

2nd Prize Winners

ALZIERAH KAVANDJE

I am looking forward to learning new things and exploring more within my grade seven year. I am also excited to set a great example and be an amazing leader this year as I am selected as a prefect.

TWAPEWA HIDILEKO

I am excited for the new things I will learn and experience. This is my final year in primary school, so I am really excited to make the most of it and study hard to get into my desired high school.

3rd Prize winners

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

BACK TO SCHOOL: Grade seven learners at Eros Primary School were filled with so much enthusiasm for the new school year, and were excited to meet new teachers and see new faces. PHOTO: JUNIOR KAPOFI

RIVALDO DA COSTA

I’m looking forward to creating amazing experiences with my friends and learn more in this grade as well. I am also excited to be a senior and set a great example for all the juniors.

eek Slang of the w Back to kind regards

This means an individual is now back from holiday or leave and has started with work. For example: Huncho: Chommie lets’s go party. Precious: No chommie, aback to kind regards.

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The Zone

THURSDAY 12 JANUARY 2023

Enriching the toursim industry

Agriculture is a multi-million industry VEMUTJIUA KATJIVENA My name is Vemutjiua Katjivena; I am a final-year student at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agriculture. Agriculture has always been a part of my life, first introduced to me at the tender age of five by my father. He nurtured my love for farming when I tagged along with him to the field and kraals. I remember always being the little girl amongst the men, and my family never made me feel like an outcast. I prided myself on being able to do things that were seen as a man’s job, as I love challenges. It reached the extent that my mother had to make peace that she couldn’t count on me to assist her with all the household chores because I was always out in the field. Regardless, my parents were always supportive of my love of farming and never disappointed nor discouraged me. Level 3 (front office operations); When it came to choosing the field of study after grade 12, it was so easy for me. I didn’t have a a national vocational certificate in hospitality and tourism Level problem choosing this field because I was passion3 (housekeeping operations); ate about farming early on and I believe agriculture a national vocational certifiis a perfect field for me because I can relate my field cate in hospitality and tourism of study to my personal background. Level 3 (food and beverage opBeing an agricultural student can be very chalerations); a national vocational lenging; it requires you to be physically and mencertificate in hospitality and tally fit for the course workload. tourism Level 3 (core comIt is also better to have a focused and driven action mercial cookery skills), and plan after your studies. a national vocational certifiWhen choosing the field of farming, you have to cate in tour guiding Level 3. be patient and dedicated, because of the various factors that are against you when choosing to be a farmer in Namibia. You have to underExcept for specifstand that there is no business without challenges. Your greatest challenge is ic short courses, your capabilities being undermined all NWR students because you are a woman. receive a 50% The greatest challenge for me in this tuition fee subsidy. field is having my success undermined External students because I’m a woman in agriculture. must pay the full Agriculture is a multi-million industry tuition fee. Tuition that will always be a golden spoon for the fees for all NWR Namibian child. Once you’ve mastered its Hi students are art and are open to learning as well as patient listed in the table and resilient, farming can be a lucrative occuabove. pation for Namibians. Katjivena

Creating opportunities in hospitality and tourism Namibia Wildlife Resort is helping curb unemployment with their hospitality institution. JUNIOR KAPOFI

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amibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) established the Namibia Wildlife Resort Hospitality Institute (NWR Hi) in 2021, and it is registered under the Vocational Education and Training Act 1 of 2008.

The school provides approved courses and is accredited by the Namibia Training Authority (NTA). NWR Hi operates two training facilities: In Khorixas in the Kunene Region and at Gross Barmen in the Otjozondjupa Region, outside Okahandja. The courses require a grade 10 or 12 certificate for admission. They are: A national vocational certificate in hospitality and tourism Level 2 (accommodation services and food and beverage services); a national vocational certificate in hospitality and tourism

DESCRIPTION

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

NWR student (cash fee in full on registration)

N$6 420

N$9 480

External student (cash fee in full on registration)

N$12 840

N$18 960

Non-refundable registration fees

N$150

N$150

NWR student tuition fees deposit

N$535

N$790

NWR student monthly payment

N$535

N$790

External student monthly payment

N$1 070

N$1 580

Vemutjiua

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