Every year should be the year of academic reckoning

WINDHOEK, Feb. 13 – Exams, tests and a national curriculum all help in Namibia’s quest to
create, young, well-educated individuals that are ready for tertiary
education. An exam can be seen as a moment of academic reckoning. Rightly
so, time, money and lots of education from different stakeholders has gone
into educating our youth. Including the time and effort that the youngsters
put in themselves. Passing exams, moving to the next grade or academic
opportunity is a rite of passage we want every pupil to experience. However,
if we look at the full-time level of Grade 12 learners this year that sat
exams, only 39,3% (8 632) of the 22 091 candidates who enrolled for 2017
qualified to enter institutions of higher learning. This is disconcerting
and should worry us as a nation.

Namibia is a young country, a nation with definite ideals, plans and goals
for its future. These plans have been widely communicated by our ambitious
and well-respected President. Dr. Hage Geingob. From Vision 2030, the
National Development Plans and the Harambee Prosperity Plan there’s a
blueprint for our success as a nation. Education lies at the very heart of
this blueprint and prosperity for us as a nation.

The Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF)is intrinsically
involved and vested in the educational process in Namibia and has a stake in
the results of the both the Grade 10 as well as the Grade 12 learners.
Especially the Grade 12 results, as this tells us and how many students we
can expect to apply and qualify for tertiary institutions. Further pursuit
of an academic career is what we hope the youth will be able to achieve and
NSFAF, through Government enables the financing of the academic careers of
individuals. Looking at 2017’s results we can certainly say that this has
been a year of Academic Reckoning.  Just as our nation’s President has
stated that 2018 will be the year of reckoning for his own Cabinet
Ministers, all the way down the line in every civil service job, we too need
to realise that we have reached the Year of Reckoning. Education Minister
Katrina Hanse-Himarwa even said so during the announcement of the Grade 12
exam results in January 2018.

NSFAF is there to assist financially in the pursuit of tertiary education,
but you need to earn the right to access to tertiary education. Your Grade
12 results are the best way of qualifying for financial assistance in the
pursuit of further education. A sure-fire way to make sure that you qualify
for financial assistance of some sort is to be the best. Be the best in your
subject, be the best in school, be the best in your district or even in the
whole region. Don’t settle for less and achieve the grades that you want,
need and deserve to study what you want.

Therefore, NSFAF urges you to focus on your studies. Be part of the new
Namibia and help achieve the ambitious plans for our nation. It requires
sacrifices, but the long-term gains and rewards will be immense. Gaining a
place at a tertiary institute to study and having the financial burden
alleviated because you qualify for financial assistance due to your
scholastic achievements is definitely worth it.  What is more, NSFAF is in
your corner, helping the best of the best succeed where it matters. Your
academic year of reckoning can pay off with access to finance through NSFAF
and a place at a tertiary institution, studying what you always dreamed of.

However, opportunities are limited and certain fields of study receive
preferential treatment. So, take a long hard look at your grades, your
attitude towards studying, your life-goals, ambitions and possible career
path and make a roadmap to achieve your dreams by starting to be the best
you can be academically.  Successfully completing the Academic Year of
Reckoning with good grades should be your focus. If in doubt, ask your
teachers, friends and family to rally round and support and assist you in
achieving your goals. Namibia needs dedicated students that will be high
achievers in the Academic Reckoning and NSFAF and the nation is ready to
invest in them. – Miss Hilya Taetutila Nghiwete
CEO: NSFAF