Education – Windhoek Observer

09 Jun

Namibia eyes to penetrate US market

ObserverNational NewsAgriculture, Education, Emerging Technologies, Infrastructure Development, Lucia Iipumbu, Mining and Oil and Gas upstream exploration, Namibia eyes to penetrate US market, Renewable Energy

Obrein Simasiku Namibia is working towards penetrating the United States (US) market by improving and expanding its export trade with America. Last year Namibia exported goods worth US$72,839 million, mainly diamonds, building stones, beef and flours among others. In the same vein, Namibia imported goods valued at US$168,966 million consisting mainly of meat and edible offal of fowls, pneumatic tyres and rubbers, and chemical products among others. This was revealed by the Minister of Industrialisation and Trade (MIT) Lucia Iipumbu, at the opening of a multi-sectoral business seminar attended hosted in conjunction with the Namibia Embassy in Washington DC. The…

02 Dec

Examinations suspended amidst question papers leakage controversy

ObserverObserver MoneyEducation, Sanet Steenkamp, Sport and Culture Ministry (MESC)

Eba Kandovazu THOUSANDS of learners will have to re-write Grade 11 (new curriculum) and Grade 12 (old curriculum) examinations early next year, following the leakage of question papers and memorandums. Ten suspects have since been arrested, Education, Sport and Culture Ministry (MESC), Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, says. According to Steenkamp, eight of the suspects were released on bail while two who are foreign nationals are still in police custody. Three criminal cases have been opened, she says. Two cases have been opened at Ongwediva police station while another one was opened at Ondangwa. Steenkamp, who has also announced that examinations…

09 Jun

Education ministry buys touch screen devices at N$8 million

ObserverObserver MoneyEducation, N$8 million

Andrew Kathindi The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture has said that COVID-19 precipitated its purchase of 97 touch screen devices valued at N$ 8 773 407 (N$ 78 650 per screen, excluding VAT. “Given that we operate in a corona virus era which is characterized by remote teaching and learning, the interactive touch screens offer us versatility,” Education ministry Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, told Windhoek Observer. According to the device’s specifications, they are able to allow for remote teaching where teachers are able to connect their learners through their smart gadgets and teach remotely in real time. “The screens…

26 Aug

Don’t blame education failures on COVID-19

ObserverNational NewsCOVID, Education, Namibia

The pandemic has slammed Namibia’s already weak educational system. The victims of this are the students. Many learners have lost time in their climb towards degrees or advancement from one grade to another. But, no one can credibly blame the failures of Namibia’s ability to uplift its learners, on the pandemic. The massive problems and alarmingly bad test results existed long before that. During apartheid, Bantu education systematically, purposefully and deliberately buried minds and creativity. Oppression can never work if people expose lies, embrace new ideas and lose all fear of anyone calling themselves superior. But, after independence, those minds…

12 Aug

NSFAF rocked by impropriety claims

ObserverObserver MoneyEducation, Itah Kandji-Murangi, Nabbot Uushona, NSFAF

Staff Writer Higher Education, Training and Innovation minister, Itah Kandji-Murangi on Tuesday said she will summon the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) board and management to explain various allegation of impropriety at the fund. This comes as a letter written by a concerned staff member making rounds, raised various allegations against the organization, including cases of staff victimization, corruption and wasteful expenditure running into millions. “I have received the letter from the Acting Chief Executive Officer and when a letter like this brings out significant allegations, it calls for them to be looked into. Given the magnitude of the…

18 Jun

Who decides the meaning of free education?

ObserverNational NewsEducation

Education ministry executive director (ED), Sanet Steenkamp made a remarkable statement (if she was quoted correctly). She said that free education does not necessarily mean that all the needs of learners will be catered for by the government. While we admire the education executive director for managing a very tough job, we must take issue with her here. The ED does not have the remit to tell Namibians what the constitution means. That question is one for the courts. Article 20 (2) of the Constitution says that the State shall provide reasonable facilities to render effective the right to education…

16 May

Northern learners face e-learning exclusion

ObserverObserver MoneyCovid-19, Education, Ohangwena, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Andrew Kathindi Over ‭240,000‬ learners in the Oshikoto, Oshana, Otjozondjupa and Ohangwena region will not be reached by e-learning as teachers scramble for alternative teaching methods, education ministry officials have noted.‬‬‬ The state of emergency that was put in place last month to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 has decimated the school calendar. It has ended face-to-face learning for learners and teachers until August. Since then, teachers have been mandated to reach students electronically through online and social media platforms like WhatsApp. Last week, education executive director, Sanet Steenkamp said after teachers returned to schools on 6 May, they would…