Access to Education has improved – Katrina

WINDHOEK, 12 AUG. – A total 16 302 pupils registered as full-time and part time candidates registered for the Grade 12 Higher Level in 2017 compared to 15 272 candidates in 2016.

This represents an increase of 1 030 or 6.3 percent for both full-time and part-time candidates when compared to 2016.

According to the Minister of Education Arts and Culture (MoEAC), Katrina Hanse- Himarwa, access to education has improved considerably since independence as enrollment has increased by 70 percent from 432 230 in 1992 to 733 636 in 2017,

“Following the implementation if the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) 2013 and 2016 respectively, the Ministry identified the need to access the efficiencies of public spending and resources allocation in the education sector,” Hanse- Himarwa said.

However, providing access to education and attracting well qualified Namibian teachers to accept positions in remote areas continues to be a challenge, while access to education in remote rural communities remains of great importance to educational equity.

Between 2010 and 2017 the number of schools have grown by 8.8 percent, from 1 697 to 1 846.

However, the Public Expenditure Review assessed past trends and current realities in public education sector expenditures, analyzing changes since the last Public Expenditure Review undertaken in 2011.

Hanse-Himarwa explained that the MoEAC is championing the devolution process and has demonstrated high commitment by ensuring that this is reflected in Performance Agreements.

To date, the Ministry has assessed eight Regional Councils for devolution readiness, and concluded that four out of the eight should begin with capacity strengthening to assume devolved functions come 2018/19.

“While the Ministry execute its functions in accordance with the Education Act (Act No 16 of 2001), we can only propel to greater heights and attain our mission if we have a committed workforce that complies with regulations and rules of the public service,” Hanse- Himarwa said.

She noted that it is the duty of supervisors to supervise their staff members and to take appropriate action in every case of breach of any of the provisions of the Act, Regulations, Staff Rules, and External and Internal directives.

To date, 780 552 adults and out-of-school students have benefited from the National Literacy Programme in Namibia (NLPN) since its inception in 1992, with an annual enrollment of 28,000 learners this including adult learners with hearing and visual impairment.

For the Grade 12 national examinations, a total number of 22 101 full-time candidates registered for the Grade 12 Ordinary Level in 2017 compared to 20 976 candidates in 2016.

This represents an increase of 1125 which translate into 5.1 percent increase of full-time candidates when compared to 2016. As for the part-time candidates, a total number of 34 215 part-time candidates registered for the October, November 2017 National Examinations which shows an increase of 4 691 or 13.7 percent from 29 524 in 2016.-Jonsey Douglas