Day: March 1, 2024

OKANKOLO: The Director of Education in the Oshikoto Region, Aletta Eises, has urged learners to prioritise their studies over social media platforms.

Eises was speaking during the launch of the 2024 academic year and Oshikoto regional performance enhancement awards ceremony at Onguti Secondary School in the Okankolo Constituency.

‘Many learners are on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. They need to get off Facebook and face their books,’ said Eises.

The education director further said learners should not wait for the final examinations and should instead start preparing themselves now.

‘We need to start now because we only have a few months left before the final examinations,’ she said.

She also called upon parents to assist in fostering academic discipline among learners by establishing rules and standards at home.

Eises emphasised the theme for the year, ‘Teamwork for action towards excellence,’ stressing the collaborative effort required from both schools and parents.

‘Parents must
help the education system so that we can achieve excellence and move forward together to raise our learners,’ she said.

She further advised principals to motivate and inspire teachers and learners rather than resorting to bullying or manipulation.

‘Bullying and manipulation are not a management style, we should lead with a firm hand and a soft heart,’ Eises said.

The director’s remarks followed a decline in the Oshikoto Region’s ranking from fourth to seventh in Grade 12 results in 2023 and an improvement from eighth to fourth position in Grade 11 results.

The Regional Councillor for the Okankolo Constituency, Hans Nambondi, echoed the call for collaboration among stakeholders in the education sector to support learners in achieving their aspirations.

‘Teachers, parents, traditional leaders, business people and political leaders, let us all team up to help our learners in achieving their dreams,’ said Nambondi.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

Umalusi CEO Dr Mafu Rakometsi says the EXCO of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) is satisfied with the progress made in preparation of the hosting of the 40th AEAA Annual Conference in August.

The CEO was delivering remarks on Friday at a media briefing on the state of readiness for the hosting of the conference.

‘Earlier today, Umalusi presented a report to the EXCO [executive committee] of the AEAA detailing progress made to date and the tasks that still need to be undertaken for the successful hosting of the 40th AEAA Annual Conference. I can confidently report that the EXCO of the AEAA is satisfied with the progress made,’ Rakometsi said.

Umalusi is preparing to host the AEAA annual conference from 19 to 23 August 2024 at the Century City Conference Centre and Hotel in Cape Town. The conference will be held under the theme, ‘Reimagining educational assessment in the age of multiple dimensions of learning in a global society’.

The AEAA plays a crucial role in facilitating mem
ber institutions to uphold best practices in educational assessment.

Rakometsi said that having hosted the 21st AEAA Conference back in 2003 in Cape Town, during the formative years of Umalusi, they feel privileged and honoured that the EXCO of the AEAA decided to bring back the conference to South Africa, 21 years later.

Rakometsi said this is a special birthday present for Umalusi because the 40th AEAA Conference is taking place just after the body celebrated two decades of its existence.

‘… It is anticipated that the conference will attract upwards of 300 delegates, comprising assessment specialists, university academics and scholars, educationists, and policy makers from the African continent, Australia, Europe, the United Kingdom, and United States of America.

‘This will provide us an invaluable opportunity to, within the context of complex and unequal educational contexts, discuss and debates various issues of mutual interest for Umalusi and the other education systems of the world,’ the CEO said.

Rakometsi called on Umalusi partners in South Africa to support the conference by making it possible for the relevant officials to put together abstracts and papers for the consideration of the organising committee. He extended the same call to its partners continentally and globally.

The partners include the Department of Basic Education (DBE), Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Independent Examinations Board, South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), Independent Schooling Sector, Private Further Education and Training Colleges and Adult Education and Training Colleges.

‘In terms of its format, the main conference will be preceded by a workshop on assessment-related topic to build capacity amongst assessment practitioners. There will be ample opportunity for interested organisations to exhibit their services and products to the approximately 300 conference participants,’ the CEO said.

Delivering his remarks during the media briefing, President of the Association for Educat
ional Assessment in Africa (AEAA), Dr. David Njengere, appealed to all organisations involved in education and assessment in Africa and across the world to support the conference in whatever way possible.

He emphasised that one of the success factors for especially AEAA conferences is the support business entities sponsor and exhibit their services and products to conference delegates.

‘In this regard, we are calling on all interested entities to partner with Umalusi and show case their products and services.

‘Based on the report presented by Umalusi, the EXCO of the AEAA is satisfied with the progress made in preparation for the conference. We have no doubt that we are going to have a memorable conference in Cape Town in August this year,’ he said. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

Government is doing all it can to pursue a more just, inclusive and fundamentally transformed society, says Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Thembi Nkadimeng.

‘Key to achieving this is ethical leadership in all spheres of government and in our context, in local government… [it] is at the epicentre of delivery of human rights,’ Nkadimeng said on Friday.

Addressing the Summit on Ethical Leadership in Local Government currently underway in Johannesburg, Nkadimeng said ethical leadership embodies integrity, accountability and a commitment to serving the people who have entrusted government with their well-being.

‘It means, for example, acknowledging the injustices of the past, addressing the present challenges, and ensuring that every citizen has access to the basic services they need to thrive.’

According to the Minister, ethical leadership entails a deep-rooted understanding of the importance to provide clean, running water to the elderly, as this will enable them to take
their medication on time and maintain their health and dignity.

‘It could also mean having a holistic comprehension of the intricacies of Local Economic Development (LED), recognising its role in developing sustainable growth, empowering local businesses, and catalysing socio-economic progress.

‘…[Ethical leadership] could mean no corruption… in the delivery of services to our people and adhering to the principle of treating others as we wish to be treated ourselves.

‘Our democracy has matured, with each election strengthening the voice of the people. We have seen landmark legislation enacted by the current government to safeguard human rights and promote equality,’ Nkadimeng said.

LED is an approach towards economic development that allows and encourages local people to work together to achieve sustainable economic growth and development, thereby bringing economic benefits and improved quality of life for all residents in a local municipal area.

As a CoGTA programme, LED is intended to maximise the
economic potential of all municipal localities throughout the country and to enhance the resilience of macro-economic growth through increased local economic growth, employment creation and development initiatives within the context of sustainable development.

Nkadimeng said government has made tangible improvements in expanding access to essential services, as reported by Statistics South Africa’s Census 2022.

‘Yet, despite our achievements, our journey towards a truly just and equitable society is far from complete. We still face deep-rooted inequalities, systemic injustices and pervasive poverty that continue to marginalise millions of our fellow citizens.

‘As leaders and stakeholders in local government, it is our duty to confront these challenges head-on, to prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable members of our society, and to work tirelessly to build a future where every person, regardless of their background, can thrive.

‘We should, as a collective, ask ourselves, for example, if the people re
siding in the 66 dysfunctional municipalities are content with the current state of their municipalities and the limitations they face in accessing basic services,’ the Minister said.

Ethics in the public service

Nkadimeng said the Constitution of South Africa requires a high standard of professional ethics in the public service.

‘This therefore means that public administration must be governed by the democratic values and principles, as well as the standards for professional ethics enshrined in the Constitution,’ she said.

Also speaking at the same event was the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Head, Advocate Shamila Batohi, who said in local government, service delivery is key.

‘When there is no service delivery, people get frustrated,’ she said.

Batohi said corruption affects people and in this regard, criminal investigations are crucial.

‘Without committed leadership and ethical leadership, it is hard to deal with corruption. We need to make sure that we build strong leadership. We need to ensu
re that we put the right people in positions,’ Batohi said.

Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), Advocate Andy Mothibi, also emphasised the importance of ethical leadership.

Mothibi said poor governance leads to poor service delivery.

‘It is important that we put in place measures that deal with corruption,’ said Mothibi, adding that ethical leadership is needed in the whole of government.

The Summit on Ethical Leadership in Local Government marks the culmination of three years of collaborative efforts within the Local Government Ethical Leadership Initiative (LGELI).

LGELI is a partnership between The Ethics Institute, the Department for Cooperative Governance, the South African Local Government Association and the Moral Regeneration Movement, which was established to develop the Code for Ethical Leadership in Local Government, as envisaged in the Local Government Anti-Corruption Strategy.

It is a five-year project that commenced in October 2019 and is convened under the Chairpersonship of Fat
her Smangaliso Mkhatshwa. – SAnews.gov.za

Source: South African Government News Agency

OSHAKATI: Eemhunda residents in the Okalongo Constituency were left destitute after a strong storm and rain destroyed their homes, business premises and mahangu fields on Wednesday night.

Rafael Eduardo, 67, told Nampa on Thursday that the storm destroyed many of their properties and mahangu fields.

According to Eduardo, many of the zinc sheets that were blown off buildings were found a distance from the houses.

‘I was left now fixing the zinc sheets back that were blown away by the storm even though they are really damaged,’ he said.

He added that with their mahangu fields completely destroyed, they are worried that they will not have a harvest.

Another resident, Pendukeni Hifindako, 38, indicated that the storm affected his business badly resulting in damage of materials and equipment that will be costly for him.

‘My welding machines and other materials were damaged and getting my business off the ground once again will be costly for me,’ he said.

At this stage, Hifindako said the total value of the
damage is unknown as he will have to assess the matter.

‘I do not know what to do now, this business was my livelihood and I have lost everything in the blink of a night,’ he said.

Okalongo Constituency councillor, Laurentius Iipinge, said he is aware of the matter and will be writing a report to the Office of the Omusati Region Governor, which will then be sent to the Office of the Prime Minister for further intervention.

At this stage, Iipinge indicated that his office has no aid to help the affected residents.

‘We are waiting for the traditional authority to provide us with a detailed report as to how many homesteads were destroyed,’ he said.

Iipinge said that once the report is issued they will know how many people were already registered for drought relief and the rest will be added on the list as their mahangu field was destroyed.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

OKANKOLO: The Director of Education in the Oshikoto Region, Aletta Eises, has urged learners to prioritise their studies over social media platforms.

Eises was speaking during the launch of the 2024 academic year and Oshikoto regional performance enhancement awards ceremony at Onguti Secondary School in the Okankolo Constituency.

‘Many learners are on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. They need to get off Facebook and face their books,’ said Eises.

The education director further said learners should not wait for the final examinations and should instead start preparing themselves now.

‘We need to start now because we only have a few months left before the final examinations,’ she said.

She also called upon parents to assist in fostering academic discipline among learners by establishing rules and standards at home.

Eises emphasised the theme for the year, ‘Teamwork for action towards excellence,’ stressing the collaborative effort required from both schools and parents.

‘Parents must
help the education system so that we can achieve excellence and move forward together to raise our learners,’ she said.

She further advised principals to motivate and inspire teachers and learners rather than resorting to bullying or manipulation.

‘Bullying and manipulation are not a management style, we should lead with a firm hand and a soft heart,’ Eises said.

The director’s remarks followed a decline in the Oshikoto Region’s ranking from fourth to seventh in Grade 12 results in 2023 and an improvement from eighth to fourth position in Grade 11 results.

The Regional Councillor for the Okankolo Constituency, Hans Nambondi, echoed the call for collaboration among stakeholders in the education sector to support learners in achieving their aspirations.

‘Teachers, parents, traditional leaders, business people and political leaders, let us all team up to help our learners in achieving their dreams,’ said Nambondi.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

OTJIWARONGO: Learners of the Orwetoveni Primary School, Karundu Junior Secondary School and Monica Geingos Junior Secondary School on Friday afternoon gathered at Otjiwarongo’s central businesses district to celebrate World Wildlife Day.

The 2024 World Wildlife Day at Otjiwarongo was jointly organised by the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and Otjikoto B2Gold Mine’s environmental department.

The three institutions each asked learners questions about the general environment, positions of charging carnivores, relaxed herbivores and names of various trees and animals.

CCF lead environmental educator, Ignatius Davids at the event said World Wildlife Day is an important annual occasion at CCF as this provides an opportunity for them to celebrate and raise awareness about the world’s fauna and flora.

‘Therefore, this day is very important as most of the environmentalists across the world and staff members of CCF who look after a total of about 30 wild cheetahs
at the farm would come together yearly and celebrate their achievements in conservations,’ he said.

The school learners then held dancing competitions under the theme ‘Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.’

The three schools also had poster competitions, interactive exhibitions and community engagement initiatives with a purpose to help educate and inspire the local community members here about the importance of preserving and protecting wildlife.

Source: Namibia Press Agency

KATIMA MULILO: The Zambezi Region Governor, Lawrence Sampofu, says he believes there will be a positive outcome from the sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), arguing it will address the needs and plight of the community.

In his welcoming remarks read on his behalf by Kabbe South Constituency councillor John Likando at the consultation meeting here on Thursday, Sampofu acknowledged that NDP5 had lots of challenges and setbacks, and thus urged both the regional and local authorities and the public to actively participate in the interaction and bring desired development in the region through the new plan.

‘Our infrastructure are to be developed, in order to create employment. The Zambezi Tourism Waterfront is there, and we hoped it would create job opportunities but now it’s turning into a white elephant,’ said Sampofu.

Chief Executive Officer and Focal Point of the African Peer Review Mechanism office in Namibia, Ambassador Lineekela Mboti argued that Namibia ‘has good plans from NDP1 to NDP5, but impleme
ntation is the challenge.’

‘We must tell ourselves the truth, we are failing to implement our plans. Yes, there are resource challenges and inadequate funding, but we still need to implement our plans,’ Mboti urged.

The ambassador argued that as the mantra goes on inclusivity, indeed no one should be left out in the formulation and benefiting from the plan.

National Planning Commission Deputy Advisor, Habani Munyungano says the main reason the NPC was in the Zambezi Region was to engage in extensive consultations with everyone, from the well-informed man to the grassroots level.

‘The findings show that there is a high unemployment rate among the youth, which needs urgent attention, our own youth, we need to take care of them, we are mandated to plan on their behalf, we need them to get them access to health facilities and basic needs,’ Munyungano stated.

The NDP6 is a six-year plan that will cover 2025-2031.

Source: Namibia Press Agency