Category: Science & Technology

The Directorate of Education, Arts and Culture (DEAC) in the Oshikoto Region is busy conducting a two-week Life Skills revised curriculum workshop for the senior primary phase (Grade 4-7), to train teachers on changes in the revised Life Skills curriculum.

The workshop is facilitated by two senior education officers from the Special Education sub-division, Paulina Gabriel and Hilma Iyambo. A total of 70 Life Skills teachers are attending the training from 23 July to 02 August 2024. By the end of the workshop, the teachers are expected to be well-equipped and capacitated to implement the Life Skills curriculum successfully.

The workshop looked at the Life Skills revised syllabus, highlighting changes that were made and guiding teachers on how to handle those changes.

It also looked at Life Skills subject administration, whereby teachers are guided on how to compile a year plan and a scheme of work as well as how to plan a lesson. This was done to guide teachers who are teaching Life Skills as a subject for
the first time.

The DEAC head, Aletta Eises also encouraged teachers to take Life Skills seriously as they are the ones to protect and safeguard their learners.

Eises said teachers are the advocates of good governance in schools and they should ensure that their learners understand the Constitution of the Republic of Namibia, because they have to adhere to it.

She said Life skills teachers should lay a foundation to not have learners who are fighting at school and teachers or learners who are bullying each other at school.

‘Learners must have the liberty to go to Life Skills teachers and share their problems so that we reach our target,’ said Eises.

She said the subject plays a critical role in laying a foundation of understanding how systems work, and understanding how processes are enlightened.

‘If Life Skills teachers are silent at school then they are encouraging violence on the school grounds. There are also some learners that come to school with wounds in their hearts and souls and it is up to the
se essential teachers to heal these learners,’ Eises pointed out.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Minister of Information and Communication Technology, Emma Theofelus has called on the members of the sixth Children’s Parliament to develop a sense of self-discipline and continuously cultivate their leadership qualities.

While delivering her ministerial address at the third sitting of the sixth session of the Children’s Parliament on Wednesday, she remarked that ‘representation marks who we are as a people, but also guides us when we see those who look like us in positions of leadership.’

Theofelus said the young members of parliament through their participation and contributions to discussions on issues impacting the Namibian child are representing the lived experience of every Namibian child. She encouraged them to deliberately contribute and participate in the discussions of the parliamentary sitting.

The minister further remarked that she was confident the sixth session will produce leaders who will contribute to the blooming youth leadership in Namibia. Members of the sixth session tabled
motions discussed in the plenary meetings of their respective standing committees.

Staying true to the theme of the sixth session of the Children’s Parliament, ‘Transforming Education in Namibia’, Raulenchia Phillipus tabled a motion calling for the Namibian Government to re-evaluate the free education policy.

‘This will allow us to properly access the loopholes that we are currently facing. One of them is inadequate funding. We are not going away from education, but the current loopholes need to be addressed with immediate effect,’ Phillipus motivated.

Taking a strong stance, Staden Mabibo tabled a motion for the gathering to debate the ban of all narcotics across Namibia. Mabibo motivated that his motion is grounded in a moral and ethical framework that prioritises the health, safety and well-being of citizens and society.

Member of the Children’s Parliament, Brandy Pekaha called for the increasing of the age of consent from 16 to 18 years, as a measure to mitigate critical issues that continue to plaqu
e the nation such as statutory rape, and teenage pregnancy.

Deputy Speaker, Michael Ajiboso urged for the order catering for disabled access.

‘Many buildings are not wheelchair accessible, which is a critical issue given the lack of accessibility in social and economic activities,’ Ajiboso said.

He said a lack of infrastructure and adaptation was just one of the broader challenges faced by people with disabilities in Namibia.

‘Accessibility is not just a matter of compliance with legal standards, but is fundamental to promoting human rights, dignity, equality and the overall well-being of individuals with mobility disability,’ Ajiboso said.

Source: The Namibia News Agency

WALVIS BAY: With the youth making up the country’s majority population, youth development and empowerment are at the forefront of Government’s agenda.

This is according to Erongo Governor Neville Andre Itope while addressing Friday’s official launch of the African Counsellors Social Development Association (ACSDA) Youth Brickmaking Project at Walvis Bay.

Itope said Namibia’s development, through the attainment of goals as outlined in Vision 2030, the successive national development plans, and the Harambee Prosperity Plan and ultimately, is linked to the well-being of its youth.

‘The country’s population is youthful, and prosperity for future generations depends on investments to enhance our youth’s health, education, social welfare, and opportunities for economic empowerment,’ he expressed.

The project currently employs 10 youth from Walvis Bay and was funded with N.dollars 2,4 million by the Social Security Commission (SSC) through its Development Fund, to fight poverty and reduce unemployment by creatin
g employment opportunities for the youth.

The governor therefore commended the collaboration by ACSDA and SSC for their contribution towards the country’s youth developmental goals.

‘This project marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to combat unemployment and poverty, particularly among the youth of Walvis Bay.’

In a speech delivered on her behalf, SCC Chief Executive Officer Milka Mungunda noted that the company’s allocation of funds to establish the brick-making enterprise underscores its unwavering commitment to supporting sustainable development initiatives that provide tangible benefits to communities.

‘Youth empowerment is a cornerstone of national development. Our youth are the drivers of innovation, the bearers of our future, and the custodians of our dreams. Investing in them means investing in the future of our nation,’ she stressed.

To date, a total of N.dollras 1 315 675 from the total funding, has been disbursed, facilitating the development of the site, procurement of bri
ck-making equipment, acquisition of a delivery truck, and recruitment and training of the youth.

ACSDA Director, Saltiel Kalola noted that the organisation’s vision is to achieve community social and psychological wellness through psychological services, skills training, and livelihood promotion intervention.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka has stated that results from Savo Nuts Private School candidates are not withheld, but rather nullified for the subjects with evidence of malpractice.

These candidates are currently serving a 12-month penalty outlined in the Government Gazette on 28 June 2016, for violating the minimum requirements and standards for administering national senior secondary certificate examinations.

Nghipondoka on Thursday was responding to questions posed by Member of Parliament Elma Dienda of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM), in relation to the examination results of some candidates from Savo Nuts Private School at Oshikango in the Ohangwena Region.

Dienda inquired whether these learners would be able to continue their education at the school in question, given that the topic of deregistering the school is still in court.

The minister stated that the candidates will be allowed to finish their study beginning in 2025, as they are only barred for 12 mo
nths.

‘Candidates can repeat their subjects at any registered and recognised centre for national examinations. I should also clarify that the school under discussion has not been de-registered,’ she stated.

The MP also wanted to know how the ministry will ensure that these students do not face discrimination when they attend other schools.

The minister stated that learners can register at any centre without discrimination as long as they have the requisite documents. The names of these candidates are not made public by the ministry, thus prejudice is quite improbable, she stated.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibia is set to host the third edition of the annual Nala Feminist Collection (Nalafem) summit on 01 July, under the theme ‘Women’s Right to Lead.’

The summit, which aims to foster, enable, and mobilise transformative feminist leadership across Africa, was officially sanctioned for hosting by Cabinet in May 2024.

Speaking to Nampa in an interview recently, Nalafem Head of Communications, Noella Ngunyam, said they hope to bridge the gap between policymakers and the communities.

‘Namibia is a gender positive country as it is one of the African countries practicing 50/50 representation in Parliament. We want to enable safety for women who are getting into politics,’ she said.

She further emphasised the need to foster intergenerational accountability by bringing together older and younger generations of women.

Nalafem, which was previously held in Nairobi, Kenya is founded on the basis of a guiding declaration, ‘African Young Women Beijing +25 Manifesto’, which aims to create a platform for infor
mation sharing, capacity support, and financing for young women’s leadership.

Minister of Information and Communication Technology Emma Theofelus, who is one of the 20 members of the Nalafem council, said in May that Cabinet’s approval underscores Namibia’s commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s leadership on both national and continental levels.

Nalafem is expected to launch a project during the summit that supports digital access for 100 Namibian young girls through the provision of laptops, school loans, and digital training, in partnership with MICT.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has suspended all pre-primary and Grade 1 to 3 teaching posts following widespread concern among educators and stakeholders around the requirements.

The teaching posts advertised through Circular 3 of 2019, titled ‘Appropriate Appointment Qualifications for Filling Teaching Posts in Junior Primary Phases (Pre-Primary, Grade 1-3),’ had demanding prerequisites for teachers in the junior primary phases of state schools. It was originally meant to increase standards and assure quality education delivery at the foundational levels. However, its implementation has drawn criticism for potentially disqualifying qualified teachers who do not meet the requirements.

Executive Director Sanet Steenkamp in a notice on Tuesday stated that the suspension is due to the formation of a Steering Committee to oversee and coordinate the consultative process for the review of Formal Education Circular 3 of 2019, scheduled for 15-16 July.

‘Institutions of Higher Learning which
offer teacher training programmes have been invited to submit the details of their programmes offered for Junior Primary phase teachers. Further to this engagement, other relevant stakeholders and interest groups are equally invited to take part in this review,’ she said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency