Nghipondoka urges knowledge-sharing
KEETMANSHOOP – Education minister Anna Nghipondoka said one should never be protective over his or her knowledge, skills and experience gained in life.
This has been her advice to education stakeholders while delivering a motivation speech at the newly introduced Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level curriculum meeting recently in Keetmanshoop.
“Through sharing these personal qualities with others, you can gain positively towards your personal growth,’’ she then explained.
The minister went on that the curriculum reform, in general, and the introduction of AS Level, specifically, involves aspects of change, which has implications to change in how things should be done at all levels of the education system.
Nghipondoka furthermore explained the purpose of her visit, which was to ensure unity of purpose, information-sharing, and inspiring, motivating and strengthening the respective stakeholders.
The politician also described the class of 2021 teachers, learners and principals as trailblazers.
“To be trailblazers means being first to do something, creators of ideas that could become standard fare, making a new track through the novice situation, a pioneer, willing to take risks and go a path that is not already there, a path finder,’’ she explained.
She also reminded those present to live up to the definition of trailblazers by adopting bravery, perseverance, professionalism, innovation and initiate an overall positive attitude towards their daily work and life in general.
“Then only can everyone of you play your part in planting a positive seed towards the implementation of the reformed curriculum, especially at AS level,” the minister said.
Nghipondoka said the ministerial management team did not really come to remove challenges with regard to teacher capacity and resource shortages, but rather to inspire all stakeholders to face the challenge with unity of purpose.
She also reasoned that seeing that there are only a few learners per subject for the new curriculum, a teacher should be able to apply differentiated instructions thoroughly, giving specific instructions to specific learners in specific components of the syllabus.
“Curriculum implementation in general and reforms require a certain level of competency – not necessarily coming from training but rather a high level of motivation,” she said.
The minister added enhancing teacher competency requires teamwork, engagement, a sense of ownership, accountability and responsibility.
Nghipondoka also urged all stakeholders to do its level best to make the class of 2021, the first Advanced Subsidiary group, a trailblazer, in terms of ensuring to progress to international universities.
Speaking at the same occasion, //Kharas regional governor Aletha Frederick said for any education system to play a meaningful role, it must give each child a fair chance and every opportunity possible to access quality education to stand a better chance to keep out poverty and unemployment.
“From what was presented on the implementation strategy, coupled with valuable inputs that have transpired in this engagement today, I am confident and I believe that we are ever ready to produce above-average to excellent results in our first Namibian Advanced Subsidiary Certificate of the Senior Secondary Examination scheduled for October and November 2021.
The Namibian Advanced Subsidiary Certificate for Senior Secondary Schools, replacing Grade 12, aims for Grade 11 learners to qualify and meet requirements for enrolment at national, regional and international institutions of higher learning.
This meeting was the first of its kind in the //Kharas region and will be in other 13 regions.