Every year, without fail, when the senior secondary exam results are released, we hear two voices: Those who praise the top achievers and the cry of those who worry about the future of their low-performing children.
When we turn on the radio, we find the minister responsible applauding the top achievers (which is good in its own way).
However, my question is always what about the far larger number of pupils wondering about their unsure future?
After the parading of the top achievers, I want to see the minister and her cohorts introduce us to some of those who performed poorly and hear from them why they fell behind.
We need to listen maturely, not judgementally and learn about the challenges faced by hard-working children who did not achieve sufficient points to go to university or Grade 12.
We need to find ways to support them and help solve their issues in the best possible way.
THE GRADE 11/12 SAGA
There is national concern about the uncertainty and lack of understanding about why a pupil would pass Grade 11 and not qualify for Grade 12 yet qualifies to go to university.
I am an educator and have taught in secondary schools. Yet, this concept is not understandable to me.
Imagine the confusion of those who are not in this field?
How must ordinary Namibians understand such an ambiguous situation?
You can go to the Namibian University of Science and Technology, but not go to Grade 12?
Somebody help me understand this.
This issue is a painful reality and the cause of stress for parents and pupils alike.
The academic journey and aspirations of our children are cut short because some people somewhere decided that they cannot go to Grade 12 (a required level to get into many institutions of higher learning at home and abroad).
Who gives the ministry the right to limit children at a very young age?
Why was the old functional system that allowed children to finish school changed to a complicated, limiting and less beneficial one?
WE NEED HOPE
Dear minister of education and members of the education team, the nation has more questions than answers.
Please provide answers without defending the system, yourself or your staff members.
Help heal the nation’s pain and before you go, please give the nation hope by providing a schooling system that is fair, straightforward, not complicated, all-inclusive and affordable.
- Theresia Mushaandja is a senior lecturer at the Namibia University of Science and Technology; and Social Activity. The ideas expressed in this article are her own and do not represent those of the university for which she works.
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