There is still a deficiency of quality education for many learners in Namibia despite yet another celebration of the Day of the African Child today.
Senior learners at the Karasburg Combined School in the //Kharas Region sat idle without a mathematics teacher for at least seven school weeks this year, according to a parent of a Grade 11 learner.
The parent, who requested anonymity, told Nampa that the school in recent weeks then assigned “an unqualified teacher who only has Grade 12” to instruct Grade 11 and 12 learners.
“My child says they will fail,” the parent said.
Approached for comment, director of Education in the //Kharas Region, /Awebahe //Hoeseb acknowledged that a math teacher vacancy existed at the school, but denied that a Grade 12 graduate was teaching the learners.
“Someone with a Grade 12 qualification cannot teach senior learners,” he said.
//Hoeseb said the Ministry of Education was in the final processes of appointing a Head of Department for Grade 11 and 12 maths and science at the school.
“Appointments in government take time and we are eager to have a teacher in that post by the end of this month.”
He showed Nampa a temporary appointment letter of a Grade 12 graduate assigned to teach mathematics to Grade 4 – 7 learners at the school.
The teacher passed all six Grade 12 subjects, including science and mathematics, on Higher International General Certificate of Secondary Education (HIGSCE) level.
“This teacher was appointed temporarily for the junior grades. If the school assigned the teacher for the senior grades also, then that is wrong,” //Hoeseb said.
Nampa reported earlier in April that Grade 12 learners at the same school were without a geography teacher for several weeks during the first term of this year.
NAMPA