Schools were unprepared for education changes – MP
Worrying results after curriculum changes
A member of parliament says much more needs to be done to ensure equitable education across Namibia, including rural areas.
An investigation by a parliamentary standing committee on education has found that government failed to prepare sufficiently before rolling out education curriculum reforms.
Reacting to the committee's findings, Swapo member of parliament in the National Council, Likando John Musialela, said very little preparation was made to ensure enough teachers were employed to cope with the drastic changes, while laboratories, books and libraries were not secured before the changes were implemented.
During a discussion of the education budget, Musialela stressed that the devastating failure of learners over the last two years can be blamed on a lack of professionalism and commitment, not the curriculum.
Another constraint is ill-disciplined learners, he said.
"The change in the syllabus and subjects has caused a major setback. With the current curriculum, it makes it very difficult for learners to prepare for their careers because the subjects are so wide,” Musialela argued.
Prepare for the future
He said there is an urgent need for a system that prepares Namibians to take up critical positions in the country, and underlined the importance of introducing wealth management and investment as school subjects.
He pointed out that more support is also needed in rural areas.
“It is unfair that over the past 34 years, the ministry of basic education as well as the mines ministry have failed and Namibia still has schools without electricity – and we expect the learning to be fair."
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Reacting to the committee's findings, Swapo member of parliament in the National Council, Likando John Musialela, said very little preparation was made to ensure enough teachers were employed to cope with the drastic changes, while laboratories, books and libraries were not secured before the changes were implemented.
During a discussion of the education budget, Musialela stressed that the devastating failure of learners over the last two years can be blamed on a lack of professionalism and commitment, not the curriculum.
Another constraint is ill-disciplined learners, he said.
"The change in the syllabus and subjects has caused a major setback. With the current curriculum, it makes it very difficult for learners to prepare for their careers because the subjects are so wide,” Musialela argued.
Prepare for the future
He said there is an urgent need for a system that prepares Namibians to take up critical positions in the country, and underlined the importance of introducing wealth management and investment as school subjects.
He pointed out that more support is also needed in rural areas.
“It is unfair that over the past 34 years, the ministry of basic education as well as the mines ministry have failed and Namibia still has schools without electricity – and we expect the learning to be fair."
[email protected]
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