We should not play blame game - Nantu
The lack of teaching and learning materials is one of the reasons why the failure rate for the National Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) and National Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) examinations was so high.
This is according to Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) acting president Daniel Hubu, who has said this is just one of the issues they picked up during a tour of 356 schools across the country in 2020.
A total of 38 019 full-time students and 32 552 part-time students wrote the ordinary level examinations, while 8 624 full-time and 591 part-time students wrote the advanced level examinations.
However, only 5 812 learners scored at least 25 points to qualify for tertiary education, according to the results of the 2022 examinations released recently.
Hubu in a statement on Wednesday said the union, during its visits to schools, discovered that some classrooms have no blackboards, while some schools were understaffed.
They also found that some schools have only one textbook for each subject, while laboratories were dilapidated and there are schools without water or even ablution facilities.
“What was shocking is that some regional directors and inspectors had not visited schools within their regions even once. How do you manage that?” he questioned.
Hubu added that the government is well-aware of these limitations, and yet it is accusing teachers of not performing. He added that teachers are accused of being “salary collectors”.
“Whatdoyoucallyourselveswhenyou are failing the nation by underfunding education, and not providing teaching and learning resources to schools? Are you not a salary collector as well?” the acting Nantu president questioned.
Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Anna Nghipondoka has said the high failure rate is proof that effective teaching is not happening in schools.
Hubu said teachers felt insulted, and they are demanding a public apology.
“Let us work together, and not against one another. Education remains a collective responsibility for us all, and we should not play the blame game,” he cautioned.