Main – Page 51 – Windhoek Observer

30 Jan

Several Hardap schools operate without key personnel

Main, National News

Hertta-Maria Amutenja In a shocking revelation during the official opening of the Regional Stakeholders Conference in the Hardap Region this week, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation Nathalia /Goagoses, addressed a critical issue plaguing the educational landscape. With a resounding call for action, /Goagoses highlighted that 11 schools in the region are currently without principals, and an additional 28 lack Heads of Departments. During her address, /Goagoses emphasized the pivotal role leadership plays in shaping the educational environment. She urged the Regional Director and the education team to fill these vacant positions, stressing the importance of accountability and…

30 Jan

Need arises for TVET to accommodate 76,000 students

Main000 students, Need arises for TVET to accommodate 76

Martin Endjala Regina Ambambi, the Chairperson of the Association of Technical and Vocational Education and Training Institutions in Namibia (ATVETIN), has highlighted the urgent need for Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions to expand their capacity. According to Ambambi, accommodating approximately 76,000 learners is crucial to keep youth off the streets and engaged in productive activities, assuming that only a few of them enter direct employment. This necessity was underscored following ATVETIN’s analysis of the recent Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) results, released on January 10, 2024. Ambambi noted that the performance in this national assessment significantly impacts…

29 Jan

Central areas of Namibia face water crisis

MainCentral areas of Namibia face water crisis

Martin Endjala The Central Area of Namibia (CAN) is on the brink of a severe water shortage. The lack of rainfall has put the region at risk, prompting Namibia Water Corporation Limited (NamWater) and the City of Windhoek (CoW) to call for immediate implementation of water conservation measures to sustain water supply across CAN. Recent data from NamWater and CoW, as of January 22, 2024, indicates that water levels in the three primary dams - Omatako, Von Bach, and Swakoppoort - have fallen to 22.2 percent of their combined capacity. This is a significant decrease from the 39.9 percent recorded…

26 Jan

Historic ICJ ruling reins Israel in

Main

Niël Terblanché Friday 26 January 2024 will henceforth be remembered as a pivotal moment in international law as the Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered its interim ruling on emergency measures against Israel, following South Africa’s accusations of state-led genocide in the Gaza conflict. At around 14:00 today, a panel of 17 judges of the International Court of Justice in The Hague found that ongoing hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza pose a plausible risk of irreparable harm. In lieu of a final judgement, the panel of judges handed down interim measures to mitigate the severe humanitarian crisis…

24 Jan

President Geingob accepts offer for cancer treatment in the USA

Main

Niël Terblanché The Office of the President has announced that President Hage Geingob has traveled to the United States of America to undergo a groundbreaking new cancer therapy. According to the Press Secretary of the Presidency, Alfredo Hengari, President Geingob has accepted a medical offer from leading scientists and medical professionals in Los Angeles, California, to undergo this specialized cancer therapy. In a statement issued late on Wednesday afternoon, Hengari assured the public that the travel, medical, and accommodation expenses of the President would not be covered by the Namibian Government. He stressed that 95 percent of the President's cancer…

24 Jan

Rundu Intermediate Hospital under investigation over mismanagement of public funds

MainRundu Intermediate Hospital under investigation over mismanagement of public funds

Hertta-Maria Amutenja The Ministry of Health and Social Service is investigating the management of Rundu Intermediate Hospital after accusations of financial irregularities involving state vehicles, with amounts of money allegedly directed towards repairs that were never executed surfaced recently. According to an anonymous source, three government vehicles - Toyota Hilux with registration number GRN 27602, Toyota Quantum (Ambulance) GRN 27756, and Ford Ranger GRN 27863 - were dispatched to Okondjatu garage in February 2022 for engine-related repairs. Payments totalling N$203,106.05 were disbursed to the garage, yet the purported services were never carried out on the vehicles. “Toyota Hilux was taken…

23 Jan

Malaria cases on the increase in northern Namibia

MainMalaria cases on the increase in northern Namibia

Niël Terblanché A shortage of materials and equipment for testing malaria infections in northern Namibia has raised concerns about the rapid spread of the disease. Recent rains have led to stormwater pooling in low-lying areas, creating new breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Since the beginning of the year, the Ohangwena Region alone has recorded 392 malaria cases. Health authorities in the region confirmed a shortage of testing equipment and materials, struggling with resupply from central medical stores for the past two months. Currently, medical facility staff are forced to rely on microscopes in laboratories to detect parasites in the blood of…

22 Jan

Nghipondoka warns against the use of so-called performance-enhancing drugs

MainNghipondoka warns against the use of so-called performance-enhancing drugs

Stefanus Nashama The Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture, Anna Nghipondoka, recently addressed concerns during a radio interview about the use of drugs by some learners in an attempt to improve their performance in national examinations. Nghipondoka expressed her concern, revealing that her office had received reports of learners resorting to drug use with the belief that it would enhance their thinking abilities during exams. “My office has received reports of some learners taking drugs before exams, thinking it would help them think better and score more points, which can actually worsen the situation,” she said. Highlighting the issue further,…

19 Jan

Eight more suspects linked to the fugitive Rebebe arrested

MainEight more suspects linked to the fugitive Rebebe arrested

Niël Terblanché Eight more suspects linked to the multimillion-dollar theft by the 30-year-old Nico Hijendepi Rebebe an employee of Bank Windhoek at its Opuwo branch were arrested in Rundu during an intelligence-led operation executed by the Namibian Police. Rebebe attempted to steal N$200 million from his employers through a series of illicit money transfers. The arrest of six suspects were made on Wednesday after one of the suspects attempted to withdraw huge sums of money over the counter at the Rundu branch of Bank Windhoek. Two more arrested on Thursday after another attempted to withdraw a large sum of money…

18 Jan

Rapid urbanization leaves learners looking for space in schools

Main

Niël Terblanché As the new academic year got out of the starting blocks, many parents in the Khomas and Erongo regions of Namibia anxiously await news about whether their children will secure places in schools. A massive undertaking is currently in progress to create new classrooms and schools to accommodate the growing number of students in these regions. Sanet Steenkamp, the Executive Director of the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture, points to rapid urbanization as a primary cause of this predicament and the challenges posed by school choice. “In many cases, rural schools have plenty of space, while urbanized…