Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Namibia National Teachers’ Union (Nantu) and student unions are disappointed in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture’s failure to have back-up examination papers ready in case existing papers are leaked.
This is pure negligence, they say. This comes after Grade 11 and 12 examination papers were leaked in the latest national examinations. Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) secretary general Mahongora Kavihuha yesterday told The Namibian the union is disappointed that these leaks were not detected earlier.
“We are frustrated that the ministry does not have back-up question papers,” he said. Kavihuha said it cannot be the first time an incident like this has occurred.
The teachers’ union is calling on the ministry to conduct a thorough investigation into the leaks. “Education for the past two years was disrupted by Covid-19, and 2022 will be disrupted by poor planning?” he asked.
Kavihuha expressed concern over students from unaffected regions now being demoralised and affected by the ministry’s decision to have some exam papers rewritten, which would affect their examination results.
Students’ Union of Namibia (SUN) president Simon Amunime shared Kavihuha’s sentiments and condemned the incident. Amunime said pupils, especially those who were adequately prepared, would be negatively affected.
He said SUN is requesting that the ministry makes provision for the affected students’ applications to tertiary institutions next year. According to Amunime, a preliminary timetable released by the ministry shows back-to-back examination dates.
Nicole Mbaile, student representative council secretary general at the International University of Management, said the incident would delay affected students’ university programmes and learning.
Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF) head Kennedy Kandume says writing final examinations next year only would affect the application process for student loans. Kandume said NSFAF would have to wait for the education ministry to make results available, as the process depends on Grade 12 results.
“The applications will start on schedule, but we will not finalise the process until the results are out, because we have to match Grade 12 results with applicants,” Kandume said.
Education deputy executive director Edda Bohn says all students are affected by the leaks. She says a total of 99 631 candidates were registered for the latest exams, of which 51 958 are full-time pupils.
The ministry is yet to communicate with higher education institutions regarding the matter, Bohn says. “We will still officially write to them on this national matter,” she says. Bohn says the timetable for early next year’s examinations has been finalised and issued to all regional directorates.
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