Erasmus Shalihaxwe
Swapo Party Member of Parliament, Vincent Mareka said the passing rate of learners at private schools is questionable.
He said this is because private schools only accept smart and well-prepared learners who are going to pass in order to satisfy their rich parents who have to pay high school fees.
Mareka made these remarks in parliament last week while contributing to the motion on the state of education in the country, which was tabled by Hidipo Hamata of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM).
Mareka stated that private schools are single businesses or commercial entities established to make a profit for the owners, but they offer the same quality of education as government schools.
“The pass mark or rate of most of the so-called private schools are questionable as they do not let well-prepared learners progress to the next grade to satisfy the rich parents. I can challenge you my honourable dear brother that we can run a test of one on one by having a private school learner against a public-school learner on basics and you will be proven wrong,” said Mareka.
He added that government schools are well equipped the same as private schools and only ignorant people without eyes will not see that.
“I don’t doubt the capacity of government schools against the private school set up, and if one argues on the number of public schools by the year 2022 was at 1 947 from 1 723 during the year of 2013, a very fair achievement not to add to the additional schools constructed during 2023 to address the classroom shortfall, and I am referring to top good quality schools.
I believe there are still more schools to come, and for your information, the current school intake stands at more or less 96%,” argued Mareka.
He added that fundraising activities have been championed by the very private schools that are being praised, and they are the same “entities” raffle tickets “fashion”.
“So I don’t see any wrongdoing if a public school management can also practice the same to meet Government hallways through this type of positive initiative,” he said.
