Free education a myth

January 14, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Free education a mythPoor parents harassed for stationery, schools collect funds 'backdoor' Those in the education sector say government has failed to meet its financial obligations to public schools, which are then forced to turn to parents and donors. Some parents and schools say they cannot afford the supposed 'free education' that the government introduced in 2013.

The system has forced some schools to beg donations from the business community, while others have come up with backdoor policies to charge learners money through school contributions.

Reverend Edward Amadhila, the technical director of the Tov multipurpose centre at Tsumeb, which houses orphans and vulnerable children, told Namibian Sun that schools are now demanding that parents buy stationery for their children.

This has reportedly forced some poor parents to keep their children at home because they are already struggling to provide for them.

No comment could be obtained from the education ministry since last Wednesday.

In 2013, the ministry introduced free education from pre-primary to secondary level, saying it was a constitutional obligation.

Government abolished the practice of schools demanding money from parents for school development funds.

The education ministry took over the responsibility of funding schools, depending on the number of children at school.

Per semester, primary schools were supposed to get N$300 per child, while secondary schools were supposed to get N$400 per learner from the ministry.

These funds were supposed to take care of learners' school needs such as exercise books, notebooks, pens and pencils, calculators and the like.

Where possible, study guides, photocopy paper and even cleaning materials and toilet paper and other classroom-related needs could be purchased from these government funds, while contributions from parents and caregivers were said to be voluntary.

However, schools are now providing learners with stationery lists, asking parents to purchase these items, a situation that is making education even more expensive than before.





Sources in the education sector say that last year the government could not meet this obligation and schools had to turn to parents and donors for funding.



“Although on paper schooling in Namibia is free, many people from poor backgrounds cannot afford it anymore. Some schools have now come up with a backdoor policy, as they started charging learners money through school contributions. It is not that they are wrong; they are only looking for money to cater for the day-to-day running of their schools, since the government does not give money to schools on time,” Amadhila said.



“At Tov, we are aware that for the poor parents this means that they have to keep their children at home, because they do not have money to provide the school needs.”



Amadhila said it is also a big challenge for organisations like Tov to keep children in school and they depend on donor support.



Namibian Sun also caught up with a parent, Paulus Kaalushu, while he was buying school supplies for three of his children.



Kaalushu said when free education was introduced parents were told that contributions from parents and caregivers would be voluntary, but now they are receiving stationery lists and teachers threaten learners whose parents fail to provide the required stationery.



“We were told that the government was providing schools with money for stationery, but now schools are demanding exercise books, notebooks, pens and pencils, calculators and the like, and sometimes study guides, photocopier paper and even cleaning materials, toilet paper and other school supplies from us. Teachers are even threatening to send our children back home if they do not contribute,” he said.



“In the past, learners could wear standard school uniforms that can be obtained from Pep Stores at a cheaper price. Many schools are now moving away from these uniforms towards tailor-made uniforms which are expensive and they are not included in the money that schools get from government. What type of expensive free education is this?” fumed Kaalushu.



An education source said schools in remote areas are the worst off. At some rural schools teachers are forced to pay for school expenses from their own pockets because the government fails to provide money on time.



“There parents do not make any efforts to provide stationery. They cannot afford them because many of them are poor. In the old days when there were school development funds, many parents used to contribute in kind and then the schools saw what they could do with the support they got. Now there is totally nothing,” the source said.



Since many secondary schools do not offer hostel facilities, parents also struggle to find housing for their children and many of them have to live on their own in shacks, Amadhila said.



“Every day they have to make a decision to stay at home or go to school and get the education which is the key to their future. This is what motivates us to keep the Tov alive,” said Amadhila.



“We have to monitor the children under our care and make sure they stay in school, thanks to our dedicated and committed friends and partners.”



Questions sent to education ministry spokesperson Johanna Absalom last Wednesday remain unanswered.



Namibian Sun wanted to know, among other things, what money is actually being provided by the government if schools are demanding stationery and other contributions from parents.



The ministry received nearly N$14 billion in the current 2019/20 financial year - a whopping 21% of the budget.



However, according to previous media reports 83% of its budget, or about N$11.5 billion, was set aside for the payment of personnel expenditure and 5% for capital expenditure.



The ministry's major cost drivers are hostel provision, the Namibia School Feeding Programme, utilities, stationery and cleaning materials.

ILENI NANDJATO

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Namibia's most expensive schools

January 14, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Namibia's most expensive schools The most expensive schools in the country will be charging parents upward of N$50 000 this year, according to a survey by Namibian Sun.

Windhoek International School came out as the most expensive, with parents expected to pay N$125 000 per year per child for Grade 12.

Parents then pay an additional capital levy of N$7 000 and a once-off enrolment fee of N$11 500.

St Paul's College is second on the list in terms of annual school fees paid per child. St Paul's College charges the most of all the schools for grades 11 and 12, with fees set at N$84 090 per year for local tax payers.

An additional enrolment fee of N$6 000 per learner is also charged.

St George's College charges N$82 120 per year for grades 10, 11 and 12.

Deutsche Höhere Privatschule Windhoek charges N$70 000 per year for grades 10 to 12, inclusive of a teaching material levy.

Boarding fees amount to N$62 300 for all grades. Parents also pay a membership of N$400.

School fees at Windhoek Gymnasium start at N$62 700 per year for all high-school grades.

A non-refundable registration fee of N$7 560 is charged in addition.

For boarding, the school charges N$36 900 per year as well as a hostel maintenance fee of N$2 700.

Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool charges N$58 245 per year, on top of a registration fee of N$3 325.

Edugate Academy charges N$57 145 per child per year, plus a N$1 000 registration fee and a booking fee of N$700.

When ranked in terms of pupils' performance in the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Higher Level (NSSCH) examinations, Edugate Academy was ranked the fourth best-performing private school last year. St Paul's College was sixth on the list and Windhoek Gymnasium Private School 10th.

Worth noting is that other private schools like Windhoek International and Deutsche Höhere Privatschule offer various school-leaving certificates, with learners having to choose between the NSSCH exams or internationally aligned school-leaving certificates.

OGONE TLHAGE

Baptism of fire for Lukas

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Baptism of fire for LukasDo-or-die bout looms Sakaria 'Desert Storm' Lukas has a chance to fight his first professional bout outside the African continent in March. Namibia's former WBO, IBF and WBA Africa Champion Sakaria 'Desert Storm' Lukas is up for a world title shot – if he wins his next fight.

The Namibian will come up against American fighter Jessie Magdaleno in a non-title fight at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Lukas and Magdaleno are both looking to redeem their careers in a fight which carries huge significance despite being non-title.

Rated sixth by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and ninth by the World Boxing Association (WBA), Lukas has the chance to become number one if he wins his next fight.

Trainer and coach Immanuel 'Imms' Moses believes Lukas' next fight will be 'make or break' for the Namibian.

“We know that it's not easy going to America and getting a positive result but Lukas is a top quality boxer who can conquer the world.

“It's a big moment in his career because he has waited for fights of this nature for a very long time.

“Lukas has been training throughout December and I can assure you that he is ready to down the American,” Moses said.

Lukas boasts a record of 23 wins in 23 fights since he turned professional in 2011.

The Namibian has however not fought for a world title, despite winning and defending numerous African titles.

It will be Lukas' first ever professional fight overseas, given that he has fought most of his bouts on home soil.

The fighter's only professional away fight was in Zimbabwe last year where he defeated Ndodana Ncube by a unanimous decision in Harare. Lukas last fought in December when he defeated Malawi's Raston Kayira by knockout at the After School Centre in Windhoek.

“We do know that we are travelling far away from home but I can guarantee you that our boxer is made for nights and fights like this.

“Jessie is a very good boxer who is also trying to rejuvenate his career and that is why we are expecting a tough fight.

“The good thing is that his last and only defeat was against an African boxer, Isaac Dogboe, in 2018.

“He also won his last two fights but not against a strong opponent like Desert Storm,” Moses noted.

The 28-year-old American comes into the fight having fought 28 times with only one loss in his professional career.

Magdaleno is currently ranked number two by the World Boxing Council (WBC) and number four by the WBA.

Global Boxing Stars (GBS) CEO and co-promoter of Lukas, Scott Patrick Farrell, insists Lukas' fight is the beginning of bigger things to come.

“'Desert Storm' is one of my favourite fighters and my team and I have worked long and hard to make this opportunity happen.

“It's my professional opinion that Lukas has been long overlooked for years, but finally his time has come, and I am very pleased to be the one who has made this happen.

“It's up to him to prove he belongs in the elite level of the world's best featherweights,” Farrell added.

Jesse Jackson Kauraisa

Omusati prepares for 2020 ­athletics

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Omusati prepares for 2020 ­athletics The Namibia Schools Sport Union (NSSU) in the Omusati Region will hold an annual advisory meeting at the youth centre in Outapi next Tuesday to organise its coaches for this year's athletics calendar.

Omusati NSSU chairperson Vaino Shimutwikeni revealed this to Nampa in a telephonic interview on Wednesday.

Shimutwikeni pointed out that teachers, members of school management and sports organisers from all over the region will attend the one-day meeting.

“Teachers will discuss the activities of the past year and will also plan the direction of the 2020 sports calendar,” said Shimutwikeni.

According to him, the meeting is important as the NSSU will also hire experts from the Namibia Chess Federation, Dancing Sport (a newly introduced sport code in the region) as well as the Athletics Namibia coaching clinic on track and field items to address the participants.

These sport codes, Shimutwikeni said, will be specifically promoted in the region this year.

“The meeting will also discuss the NSSU finances, as well as the affiliation fees expected from each school to ensure sporting activities are carried out as per regional calendar,” stated the Omusati NSSU leader.

Sport officials from the regional directorate of education will also be present.

Shimutwikeni also announced that this year's Omusati regional athletics championship will be held on 8 February at the Oshakati Independence Stadium.

This will follow the preparations and competitions already started at cluster, circuit and zonal levels throughout the region.

Shimutwikeni said the Omusati regional sport calendar has been drafted for all sport codes, and has been circulated to schools.

NAMPA

Five tasks facing Setien

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Five tasks facing SetienNew face at Barcelona Barcelona are top of La Liga and into the Champions League last 16, while they begin their tilt at the Copa del Rey against Ibiza next week. Quique Setien is charged with leading Barcelona to glory on three fronts this season after being appointed as Ernesto Valverde's successor.

However, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said on Tuesday that Setien had been brought in to give the team a mid-season boost and there are several improvements to be made.

Here's a look at some of the challenges facing the new Camp Nou coach.

Barcelona have already conceded 23 league goals, which is the same record as Real Valladolid in 14th and almost twice as many as both Real and Atletico Madrid.

Their problem has been less about individual mistakes – although there have been a few of those – as a vulnerability to pace on the counter-attack.

Teams have had success hitting Barca on the break and Sergio Busquets has too often been exposed in front of the back four.

With Gerard Pique turning 33 next month and Samuel Umtiti still struggling for fitness, there may be a need for signings in the summer.

In the meantime, Setien, who is not known for his defensive principles, must find a way to tighten the team up.

After joining for 120 million euros from Atletico Madrid last summer, expectations for Griezmann were high, especially after the failed pursuit of Neymar.

But the Frenchman has shown only glimpses of his best so far in a Barca shirt, in part because he is yet to be played consistently in his favourite position.

To fit Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez into the front three, Valverde deployed Griezmann on the left and, in that way, Setien may have had the problem solved for him.

Suarez's four-month absence with a knee injury could mean Griezmann finally gets his wish to play down the middle.

Valverde and his team never seemed fully to recover from dramatic Champions League collapses against Roma and Liverpool in the last two seasons.

At Anfield, Barcelona's players looked paralysed by the fear of a repeat of what had happened the year before and Pique admitted the memories quickly came rushing back.

Those weaknesses, including a susceptibility to conceding in streaks and a vulnerability under pressure, have often resurfaced this season.

In November, Barca shipped three goals in seven second-half minutes to lose to Levante while the two late goals conceded against Atletico last Thursday proved the final straw for Valverde.

Setien will have to finally cure his players of their mental block.

Setien is a purist and his appointment should come as a relief to those fans, and perhaps players, who had grown tired of stodgy performances under Valverde.

Nostalgia for the free-flowing football played by Pep Guardiola's crop weighs heavy.

Yet the likes of Messi, Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele, Frenkie de Jong, Arthur Melo and Jordi Alba mean there is still no shortage of creative talent in the squad and Setien should enjoy matching them with his own attacking beliefs.

“Players enjoy football much more with the ball at their feet than running after it,” he said last year, which should be music to the ears of Barca's players.

Setien has a reputation for giving youngsters an opportunity and he will be reunited with Junior Firpo, whom Barca bought after Setien helped him flourish at Betis.

But Firpo struggled for opportunities under Valverde, who seemed reluctant to give some of La Masia's talents any consistent minutes in the first team.

Ansu Fati has faded from view after exploding onto the scene at the start of the season while Riqui Puig's progress has stalled and Carles Alena and Juan Miranda have been sent out on loan.

Making the first team at Barcelona is a formidable task but the potential would appear to be there in the academy, if Setien is brave enough to find it.

NAMPA/AFP

Van Schalkwyk wins championships

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Van Schalkwyk wins championships Namibia's Connor van Schalkwyk beat South Africa's Anro Nel 6-3 6-7 6-3 to win the boys under-16 final at the Confederation of African Tennis Southern African Junior Championships in Windhoek on Tuesday.

The tournament started on 10 January and ends 19 January, with matches taking place at the SKW courts in Olympia and Central Tennis Courts.

The second-seeded Van Schalkwyk started off slowly as he struggled with Nel's power.

He, however, rallied back from 3-2 to win the first set 6-3.

Nel then upped his game and produced some strong serves, which at one point saw him lead 4-1 before Van Schalkwyk fought back to tie the set 6-6.

However, Nel won the resultant tie break to win the set 7-6, setting the stage for a fascinating final set.

The third set was an exciting affair as Van Schalkwyk started off well, winning the first match before Nel made it 1-1.

The Namibian then won the next two matches to make it 3-1, before Nel won the fifth match to make it 3-2. Van Schalkwyk then held on for the save to win the next two matches, making it 5-2 before Nel won the match.

The Namibian then wrapped up the match by breaking the South African serve to win the under-16 tournament for the first time on his home ground.

Speaking to the media after his victory, Van Schalkwyk said he was happy to win the tournament for the second time in his career after winning the under-14 version two years ago in Botswana.

“Today, my forehand was not working as well as I would have liked it. My aim was to push him back and move into the court and maintain the pressure. After the first set, I got too excited and tried to do too much on the break points,” he said. Van Schalkwyk added that winning the first game in the third set was important as that helped him cruise ahead.

Meanwhile, in the girls under-16 final, second-seeded Suzanie Pretorius of South Africa beat compatriot Leigh van Zyl 6-3 6-3.

In the boys under-14 final, Leo Matthysen of South Africa beat Takura Mhwandagara of Zimbabwe 6-1, 6-4.

In the girls under-14 final, Midzi Tanyaradzwa of Zimbabwe beat Jani Steyn of South Africa 6-4, 3-6 and 6-4.

NAMPA

English PFA faces probe

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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English PFA faces probe The Professional Footballers' Association, the trade union for players in England and Wales, is facing a statutory inquiry into serious concerns about how the charity is run.

The UK government's Charity Commission describes the inquiry as the 'most serious intervention' it can make, and will focus on the management of the players' union charity by its trustees, who include PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor.

The inquiry will focus on the charity's relationship and transactions with other bodies and whether they are in the best interests of the charity, and whether its activities have been exclusively charitable and for public benefit. The commission's head of investigations, monitoring and enforcement Stephen Grenfell said: “The public rightly expect charities to operate to the highest standards across all they do.

“Serious concerns have been raised about the way the PFA charity is run. We will now examine what has happened at the charity through a full statutory inquiry and ensure, where necessary, action is taken.”

Taylor said in March 2019 he would stand down following the conclusion of an ongoing independent review of the union, having been in the post since 1981.

The Charity Commission first opened a regulatory compliance case in November 2018.

The PFA said in a statement: “The trustees have continued to co-operate fully, openly and transparently with the Charity Commission and will continue to do so throughout this process.”

NAMPA/AFP

A tomeke omulilo egumbo lyohonda ye

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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A tomeke omulilo egumbo lyohonda ye Omunamimvo 24 okwa tulwa miipandeko mondoolopa yaMariental mOlyomakaya ga piti, omolwa eyonagulo lyomaliko sho kwa lopotwa a tomeke omulilo egumbo lyohonda ye nokuyonagula omakende gohauto ye.

Detective Chief Inspector Simon Hauwanga okwa popi kutya omufekelwa okwa tulilwa miipandeko ongula yOlyomakaya moAimablaagte. “Omufekelwa otaku popiwa kutya ohonda yomulumentu ngoka yuule woomwedhi hamano na okwa tomeke egumbo lye shoka sha etitha eyonagulo lyiinima ngaashi okila yokutalalela, otiivi oshowo iipundi yomoseti,” Hauwanga a popi.

Iinima mbyoka ya yonagulwa oyongushu yooN$28 000. Moshiningwanima sha yooloka yina yaanona yaali okwa kanithile iinima ye ayihe momulilo, konima sho egumbo lye lya pipo moVineta moSwakopo mOlyomakaya. Marel Grobler, omukalimo gwomoVineta, okwa popi kutya okwa li a kotha po sho aanona ye ya mondunda ye noku mu lombwela kombinga yomulilo. Grobler okwa popi kutya okwa li a ka tala na okwa mono oseti yi li kohi yomulilo. Okwa kutha mo aanona ye nokukuga ta kongo ekwatho. Kape na shoka sha hupu mo momulilo ngoka.

NAMPA

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Omukokele a kwata onkonga okamona

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Omukokele a kwata onkonga okamona Omukokele gwoomvula 68 okwa tulwa miipandeko mEtitano lya piti, na okwa holoka komeho yOmpangu yaMangestrata mOmaandaha moRehoboth, ta tamanekelwa oshipotha shekwatonkonga lyokamona kokakadhona koomvula hetatu.

Omukokele ngoka ita vulu okutumbulwa kedhina opo ku gamenwe uukwatya wokamona, okwa holoka komeho yomangestrata Kandiwapa Nangombe.

Okwa tindilwa omboloha mOmaandaha noshipotha sha undililwa kEtitatu.

Pauyelele wepeko lyoshipotha shoka, ekwatonkonga ndyoka olya ningwa pokati komvula yo 2017 sigo omwedhi Januari nuumvo moRehoboth.

Omutamanekwa okwa li a tulilwa mo oshipotha sha faathana momvula yo 2015 ihe osha li sha kuthwa mo omolwa ompumbwe yuumbangi.

Epangelo otali kalelwa po moshipotha shika kuRosalia Aihuki omanga Christopher Stanley gwoStanley Law Chambers, ta kalelepo omufekelwa.

NAMPA

Elongo lyoshali moNamibia ondjodhi yowala

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Elongo lyoshali moNamibia ondjodhi yowalaAavali itaya vulu okugwanitha po oompumbwe dhelongo dhoka tadhi tulwa komapepe gawo kooskola Mboka ye li moshikondo shelongo oya popi kutya epangelo olya ndopa okugwanitha po oompumbwe dhooskola dhepangelo nangashiingeyi aavali oyo taya kondjitha koonkondo ya kandulepo oompumbwe dhoka. Oshikako oshipe shoskola osha tameka naavali yamwe oshowo ooskola itaya vulu elongo lyoshali ndyoka lya tulwa miilonga kepangelo momvula yo 2013.

Omulandu ngoka gwelongo omupe otagu thiminike ooskola dhimwe dhi hehele okuza kaanangeshefa oshowo moshigwana omanga dhilwe dha tula miilonga omulandu gwokonima yomiyelo tadhi pula aanaskola ya yambidhidhe ooskola paiyemo.

Omusita Edward Amadhila, omukomeho gwopautekinika moTov moTsumeb, okwa lombwele oNamibian Sun kutya ooskola ngashiingeyi otadhi pula iikwathitholongo okuza kaavali. Shoka aniwa osha thiminike aavali yamwe ya kaleke aanona yawo momagumbo molwaashoka itaya vulu okulanda iinima mbyoka tayi pulwa.

Uuministeli welongo inawu vula okutya sha. Momvula yo 2013 okwa tulwa miilonga elongo lyoshali kaanaskola yomoondondo dhopetameko sigo oondondo dhopombanda. Epangelo olya kutha po omukalo gwooskola tadhi pula iimaliwa okuza kaavali onga iifuta yooskola, epangelo olya kutha ko oshinakugwanithwa shokugandja omakwatho kooskola kwiikwatelelwa kutya moskola omu na aanaskola yangapi.

Moshikako kehe shoskola aanaskola yoondondo dhopevi oya pumbwa okupewa oshimaliwa shooN$300 okuza kepangelo omanga yoondondo dhopombanda ooN$400.

Oonzo okuza moshikondo shelongo odha popi kutya omvula ya piti ooskola inadhi mona omakwatho okuza kepangelo, na odhiikolele maavai okumona omayambidhidho.

“Nonando poombaapila elongo moNamibia olyoshali aantu oyendji unene aathigona itaye shi pondola we. Ooskola dhimwe odha tula miilonga omilandu dhokumona iiyemo okuza maanaskola okupitila momayambidhidho gooskola.

Itashi ti kutya oya puka ihe otaya kongo owala omikalo dhokukandula po oompumbwe dhoskola dhesiku,” Amadhila a popi.

Okwa popi kutya shoka otashi thiminike aanona kaya ye kooskola naashoka oshi li omukundu omunene kuyo, okukaleka aanona mooskola. Oshifokundaneki shika osha yi woo moonkundathana nomuvali gwedhina, Paulus Kaalushu omanga ta landa iinima yoskola yaanona ye ye li yatatu.

Kaalushu okwa popi kutya sho elongo lya ningwa lyoshali, oya lombwelwa kutya eyambidhidho lyooskola otali ningwa pakwiiyamba, ihe ngashiingeyi otaya pewa omisholondondo dhiinima mbyoka ya pumbiwa okulandwa kaavali, naalongi otaya ningile omatilitho aanaskola mboka aavali yawo ya ndopa okulanda iinima mbyoka.

Okwa popi kutya ooskola otadhi pula omambo, uushina oshowo iiwapalekithi yooskola naalongi otaya ningile omatilitho gokutidhila komagumbo aanaskola mboka taya ndopa okufaalela iinima mbyoka ya pulwa. Okwa tsikile kutya nale aanaskola oyali owala haya zala omizalo okuza moostola ngaashi oPep, ano omizalo dhombiliha ihe ooskola odhindji natango otadhi kutha po omukalo ngoka nokupula omizalo dhoka hadhi hondjwa paumwene na odhi na ondilo.

Onzo yimwe oya popi kutya ooskola dhokomikunda odhili unene muupyakadhi sho aalongi ngashiingeyi taya longitha iimaliwa yawo mokugwanitha po oompumbwe dhoskola.

Kombinga yoondondo dhopombanda, natango ope na omukundu gwooskola ndhoka kadhi na omihandjo, sho aanona taya thiminikwa konkalo okuya moombashu nokuhiila mepupi lyoomvula ooshona ngaashi okuza poomvula 16.

Omapulo guukithwa komunambelewa omupopiliko guuministeli welongo, Johanna Absalom okuza mEtitatu lyoshiwike shapiti, inaga yamukulwa.

Namibian Sun okwa li a hala okuuva kutya iimaliwa mbyoka hayi pewa uuministeli kepangelo kehe omvula ohayi longithwa shike, ngele ooskola otadhi pula iikwathitholongo okuza kaavali.

Uuministeli owa pewa oobiliyona 14 billion moshikakomvula shika tuli, noshimaliwa shoka osha kalela po oopresenda 21 dhomutengenekwathaneko gwelongitho niiyemo yepangelo yoshikako shika.

Oshimaliwa shoka hashi pewa uuministeli oshindji ohashi longithwa momihandjo, moprograma yegandjo lyoondya kaanaskola ano oNamibia School Feeding Programme, iikwathitholongo oshowo iiwapalekithi.

ILENI NANDJATO

Kiswahili 'not a priority'

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Kiswahili 'not a priority'Rejection not 'un-African' It is hypocritical and unpatriotic to introduce Namibians to Kiswahili when they have not mastered their own languages, says PDMYL spokesperson Maximalliant Katjimune. The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) youth league has rejected a government plan to introduce Kiswahili in Namibian schools.

At a media conference on Tuesday, PDMYL spokesperson Maximalliant Katjimune emphasised that their rejection should not be seen as 'un-African' but that Kiswahili is simply not a priority at this point.

“Moreover, it is hypocritical and unpatriotic as Namibians to introduce other African languages while we Namibians have not even mastered our own indigenous languages,” he said.

“Most Namibians can only speak their own indigenous language, English and Afrikaans. It must be the aim of government to ensure that Namibians are patriotic and learn a different mix of Namibian languages, rather than introducing a language from a faraway country which has no significance and relevance to the ordinary Namibian.”

Cabinet approved the introduction of Kiswahili in Namibian schools last year, following a two-day visit by Tanzanian president John Magufuli.

During his visit in May, Magufuli said: “We hope that Namibia will follow in the steps of other SADC countries, which have introduced Swahili into their education systems, such as South Africa and Rwanda. Tanzania will provide Swahili teachers and learning materials as a way to train Namibians to become Swahili teachers.”

Some education sector stakeholders have expressed concern over the cabinet decision, saying it will confuse pupils.

At the time, Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) president Mahongora Kavihuha said there should be no problem introducing new languages or subjects to the curriculum if they have the potential to add value.

“If that language or subject will add value, be meaningful, and add or create competitiveness in terms of employment, exposure and opportunities, then there is no problem,” he said.

Kavihuha also warned that although it might be a good decision, without a comprehensive approach the introduction of the language could be futile.

Youth activist Shaandre Cavin Finnies described the PDMYL's utterances as on Kiswahili as “fundamentally Afrophobic”.

“The state didn't propose compulsory classes. It proposed an option for an elective African language. One that doesn't belong to a tribe, but rather to a multitude of African nations. They can keep the same energy with German, French and the various other Western languages which are currently being taught in schools. The purpose of an opposition shouldn't be to simply oppose,” Finnies wrote on social media.

JEMIMA BEUKES

Venaani urges Geingob to halt evictions

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Venaani urges Geingob to halt evictions The Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) has called on President Hage Geingob to stop evictions as a matter of urgency.

Party leader McHenry Venaani addressed his plea to Geingob in an open letter on Tuesday.

Venaani said in the run-up to the 2019 general election, which took place less than two months ago, a number of political parties made promises to the electorate that they would strive to improve their lives and ease the massive burden ordinary Namibians are carrying.

“In fact, your government facilitated the so-called town hall meetings in various regions at which ordinary Namibians expressed their deep frustration and anger regarding a number of issues, including the nation's ongoing land release and housing crisis,” Venaani wrote to Geingob.

“It was thus with deep shock that we, as the PDM, and I as its leader, learnt about the evictions at the Endombo compound in Tsumeb, which houses over 260 households, by Christo Groenewald, a supposedly new owner.

“Mr President, this flies in the face of the promises made by political candidates in the run-up to last year's election and specifically promises made by you and your administration that you will work in the best interest of ordinary Namibians, especially those who are landless and without proper shelter,” Venaani added.

He said less than two months ago, the people of Tsumeb voted in favour of Geingob, “with the majority putting their trust in you and your party while you seem to have no regard for their lives”.

“These people (at Endombo) have been there for decades.

“But let's give you the benefit of the doubt, Mr President. Either you may be ignorant of what's happening, which is highly unlikely, or there are people who are trying to sabotage you, which means the internal Swapo squabbles continue to impact the lives of the poor and vulnerable,” Venaani added.

He also mentioned Namibia's growing housing backlog.

“In fact, according to the latest statistics, there are 308 informal settlements in Namibia, with a staggering 228 000 shacks accommodating about 995 000 people in urban areas. Are they all at threat?”

He said instead of Geingob and his administration giving people hope, they were “adding to their despair and hopelessness”.

“In addition, we urge the authorities to stop the madness of evicting people in Tsumeb and the entire country as a matter of urgency.”

STAFF REPORTER

New curriculum benefits the rich - TUN

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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New curriculum benefits the rich - TUN Teachers Union of Namibia (TUN) secretary-general Mahongora Kavihuha says the new curriculum for basic education is worrying.

Briefing the media in the capital on Tuesday, he said the revised curriculum, instead of narrowing the divide between the rich and poor, actually serves to accentuate the divide.

Kavihuha said the curriculum states explicitly that after learners complete the National Senior Secondary Certificate grade 11 ordinary level, they will have to choose between getting jobs, pursuing vocational training, distance education or going on to grade 12 if they have achieved the requisite grades.

“The situation as it stands currently is such that the few learners who meet the prescribed proceeding requirements to grade 12 are most likely from wealthy families,” he said.

He added that the majority of learners, most likely from poor families, will end up with only a grade 11 qualification, which compromises their chances of pursuing better-paid careers such as engineering and medicine.

“Ironically, universities in South Africa have as far back as 2015 already started tracking the issue of admitting our students who are going to graduate through the revised curriculum, while our universities have yet to publicise how they are going to handle graduates from the revised curriculum,” Kavihuha said.

The TUN secretary-general also raised concern about unemployed teachers, saying the number of unemployed teachers continue to swell each year as new ones graduate.

“TUN demands that a fully-fledged research programme should be commissioned to determine how many teachers will be needed in this decade at least and what field or subjects of study they will be needed for,” Kavihuha stressed.

He added that it is crucial that such a study or research focuses on vocational training, especially in view of the importance placed on it in the revised national curriculum.

The ministry embarked on a curriculum review as recommended at the 2011 education conference. The new curriculum has been implemented since 2015 in three phases - junior primary, senior primary and junior secondary.

NAMPA

Nyae Nyae actively monitors fires

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Nyae Nyae actively monitors fires Over the past five years, the Nyae Nyae Conservancy and Community Forest has actively managed and recorded fires in their area.

According to a statement issued by the Nyae Nyae Conservancy management committee, this step was taken because fires were causing more damage to the environment than over-grazing.

“Fires were found to be having a major impact and 50% of the 8 992 square kilometre area was devastated and burnt in 2010.”

It became clear that this was not a once-off incident, but a worrying trend that threatens livelihoods, lives and wildlife, the statement said. “The current fires in Australia are a stark reminder of the damage fires can cause and the danger of uncontrolled fires. As climate change takes ahold across the globe, events that used to be rare are becoming an annual or seasonal occurrence.” According to the committee, the Nyae Nyae Conservancy has received professional help in mapping areas most at risk of fires and burning in recent years. These areas are prioritised for fuel reduction burning.

“This controlled burning is carried out to reduce the chances of hotter fires later in the season destroying villages, precious forestry resources and wildlife.”

The committee said the level with which fires can be predicted in relation to mapping and where they occur has been proven very effective.

Last year was perceived as a relatively 'light' year in terms of fires in the Nyae Nyae Conservancy due to the lack of rain and this therefore reduced fuel reduction burning, the committee said.

“However, the end of 2019 brought much-needed and wanted rains in this area and with rainfall already being experienced in January, this will likely lead to 2020 being a year of high fuel growth, and consequently, a year with increased fuel reduction burning activities.”

The committee said this will allow the Nyae Nyae Conservancy and Community Forest to prepare and plan for a month of fuel reduction burning in June and then focus these activities in high priority areas that will be identified and mapped in May. “These activities not only protect villages and save precious resources, but also build on the longitudinal data for this area and enable valuable lessons to be learnt and replicated in other areas where fires are a threat.” The work is being funded by the Environmental Investment Fund.

STAFF REPORTER

Land grabbers defiant

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Land grabbers defiantEviction orders issued last week Land grabbers refuse to vacate an area earmarked for 4 000 residential and business plots at Otjiwarongo. Suspected land grabbers at Ombili informal settlement have defied orders by the Otjiwarongo municipality to vacate an unserviced plot they have occupied since November last year.

The municipality last week issued eviction orders to all 40 squatters to remove their structures before 8 January.

Otjiwarongo acting CEO Marlay Mbakera told Nampa that the land was earmarked for over 4 000 residential and business plots.

She said a property developer had been appointed to service the area from January until June 2020.

The developer is also tasked with installing water pipelines, creating streets and erecting streetlights.

Once that is done, the municipality will allocate plots to applicants on its waiting list.

Some of the land grabbers on Tuesday told Nampa that they would not move unless they were shown another place where they can settle.

Tomas Nicanor (35) said he built his shack on the plot where he now lives with his five children.

“I will not move out without being shown a new plot where I can take my children,” he said.

Helena Sondaha (23) said she lost her job at a farm last year and has no relatives to stay with at Otjiwarongo, as she is from the Kavango East Region and cannot afford to pay rent.

Otjiwarongo municipality spokesperson Adelheid Shilongo on Tuesday said the eviction orders remained in force.

Municipal officials and town councillors were to meet with the squatters last night to discuss the way forward, she said.

NAMPA

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Omungwelume hostel nearly completed

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Omungwelume hostel nearly completed The construction of a school community hostel at Omungwelume Senior Secondary School in the Ohangwena Region is at an advanced stage.

School principal George Nanghanda told Namibian Sun he is confident that the hostel will be completed by the end of next month.

According to the report he received from the contractor, and by his own observations, the construction is 70% complete.

The government allocated N$6.4 million for the construction of the hostel, thanks to persistent pressure by the regional governor Usko Nghaamwa. “Construction work is progressing well despite the rainfall. The contractor made an estimation that 70% of the work has been completed and we are so delighted,” Nanghanda said. “Some of the learners are still accommodated at a run-down property bought by the Ohangwena regional council, while others live in the Omungwelume settlement and surrounding areas while the work is finishing. We are hopeful that by the end of next month it will be completed.”

Nghaamwa was irked by learners living in shacks without adult supervision and started raising funds for the community hostel.

The N$7 million project was then supported by the government as a joint venture with the community of Omungwelume. The project consists of hostel blocks that will accommodate 123 girls and 123 boys, a kitchen, ablution facilities, hostel caretakers' accommodation, a boundary wall, a sewer system, fresh water supply and electrification.

Regional works and maintenance is the principal agent of the project and they are maintaining and supervising the work together with the regional directorate of education. Contractors are urged to work faster, but no substandard work will be allowed.

Last June the school, in collaboration with Nghaamwa's office, hosted a fundraising dinner to raise money for the construction of the hostel.

The event raised N$509 100 and 263 bags of cement. These donations complemented the 58 000 bricks delivered to the school by Nghaamwa's office. As of last year, the school had 581 learners in grades 10, 11 and 12. Only 118 were accommodated at a run-down property bought by the Ohangwena regional council.

Concerned parents say Ohangwena is vast and the non-boarding school is taking in learners from all corners of the region – a situation that forces learners to take any available accommodation. Grade 10 learners from as far as Okongo, Epembe and Ekoka rent accommodation at Omungwelume to attend school there.

ILENI NANDJATO

Namibian driver dies in Canadian crash

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Namibian driver dies in Canadian crash The family of a truck driver who died in a car crash in Taber, Canada, are trying to raise N$200 000 to repatriate the remains of Usiel Kanguatjivi.

Kanguatjivi (31), of Saskatoon in Canada, was one of four people killed when the pickup truck he was driving and a van collided near the town in which he resided.

A family representative, Cornelius Kanguatjivi, said attempts were being made to raise the money required both here and in Canada to repatriate his relative's remains.

“We are trying to raise the money. We need close to N$200 000. That side [Canada] they are trying their level best to raise the money. We will discuss what we will need to add in family meetings we will have this week,” said Kanguatjivi.

A local undertaker had initiated contact with officials in Canada for the body's repatriation, he said.

Merlyn Kauari, the partner of the late Kanguatjivi, was struggling to explain his death to their five-year-old son, Alexander, the Montreal Times reported.

“I don't want him to think that dad is coming home when he's not coming home,” she said. “It has been really hard. Both our lives have changed forever.”

Kauari knew something was wrong when Kanguatjivi did not answer his phone when she called him last week Friday. At about noon, one of his co-workers called her to say there had been an accident with one of the vehicles at work.

“I was panicking and afraid for him because I knew that he was one of the drivers,” she said.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help with the cost of repatriation, with a target of C$25 000 (N$275 000).

Kanguatjivi had planned to come back to Namibia for the first time this year after nine years in Canada. He planned to visit his mother and eventually take his three other children from Namibia to Canada, Kauari said.

-additional reporting by the Montreal Times

OGONE TLHAGE

By-elections dampened

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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By-elections dampenedSlow start at polling stations The beginning of the school year was pinpointed as the reason for a slow start to by-election voting in four constituencies yesterday. Voting was slow in by-elections that took place in the Khomasdal, Gobabis Urban, Keetmanshoop Urban and Walvis Bay Urban constituencies yesterday, with the opening of the school year playing a key role.

Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN) chief electoral officer Theo Mujoro said yesterday afternoon that the results would be released as soon as they are collated in the various constituencies.

The start of the school year was blamed for why voting got off to a slow start yesterday morning when Namibian Sun visited multiple polling stations in Khomasdal.

Walter Hendricks, the presiding officer at the Otjomuise clinic polling station, expressed worry about the low turnout.

“We have experienced no problems, but we've only had 40 voters so far.

It will improve later in the day, because the schools just opened,” said Hendricks.

Mbeumuna Rukoro, the presiding officer at the Mamadu polling station, said they did not experience any glitches as voting got underway.

“We opened the station at 07:00 and we did not have any problems. The voters were well-behaved.”

Rukoro informed Namibian Sun that about 40 voters had showed up to cast their votes by 10:00.

Landless People's Movement (LPM) observer at the Mamadu polling station in Otjomuise, Samuel Driemond, said he did not observe any issues.

“It is going well. We did not have any problems at this polling station. However, we had a problem with verifying one voter who returned to get his voter card, as he did not show up with any voter's card when he came to cast his vote.”

Angelina Tjipareho, a Swapo observer at the same polling station, echoed Driemond's sentiments.

At the Daan Viljoen polling station, presiding officer Alvin Kuutondokwa was satisfied with the manner in which voting was taking place.

“We have had a number of voters already. It is picking up. I guess people went to work and took their children to school and that is why the turnout is low,” Kuutondokwa said at the time. Swapo election observer at the Daan Viljoen polling station John Shilukeni agreed the movement of voters coming to vote was slow. “We only had a few people so far.”



Walvis Bay decides

Voting took place at a snail's pace in the harbour town of Walvis Bay yesterday.

However, at the time, returning officer Jeff Manale expressed confidence that the process would be smooth at the 10 fixed and nine mobile polling stations at the town.

According to some observers, the fact that voting coincided with the start of the first school term could have resulted in the slow start experienced.

Some parents were at schools, while others attended to their work obligations.

The ECN indicated that 23 169 people registered for the by-election.

According to Melina Clouded Neis, the presiding officer at the Kuisebmond community hall polling station, an estimated 300 people had voted by 11:00.

The Kuisebmond community hall also served as the collating centre for the by-election.

Swapo's Sirie Topulathana, Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) candidate Richard Hoaeb and two independent candidates – Knowledge Ipinge and Kenneth Iilonga – contested to become the next councillor for the Walvis Bay Urban ­Constituency.

OGONE TLHAGE AND OTIS FINCK

Nation eating its own children

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Nation eating its own children“When a hyena wants to eat its own children, it first accuses them of smelling like goats.” This African proverb thunderously resonates with regular occurrences of violence against children in Namibia, especially the girl child.

Such violence is, more often than not, perpetrated by the victims' own family members. Already defenceless because of their age, these children often suffer in silence out of fear, ignorance or not knowing who to turn to.

Yesterday, a Rehoboth father was in the local magistrate's court to apply for bail after he was arrested for allegedly raping his own daughter, aged eight.

The 68-year-old accused, perceived as a father figure in his community – partially due to having been a teacher at the town for decades, is said to have been sexually abusing his biological minor for a stretched period of time.

Namibian children are in real trouble. Throughout the history of humankind, fathers were always their daughters' first port of call whenever they felt threatened in any way. Now it is their fathers pursuing them to quench their shameful insatiable lust.

Children are so much in trouble that many of them cannot even confide their horrors in their own mothers, who often spring to the defence of their husbands.

Even schools are littered with sexual predators in whom children cannot confide their suffering at home.

In church, on paper the holiest place on earth, children have become fodder for the preachers' gratification.

Just last September, a married Lutheran church pastor was arrested for allegedly raping a local learner at Ongha, over a sustained period.

It is even suggested that one Sunday he left the girl in his house and went to preach God's gospel in church, returning later to continue his satanic deeds.

Simply put, the girl child is a troubled species. She has absolutely nowhere to turn to in search for refuge and protection from the claws of the sexual predators.

Irrigation scheme under threat

January 15, 2020, 2:00 pm

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Irrigation scheme under threat NamWater is planning to cut water supply to the Hardap irrigation scheme by the end of the month because the level of Namibia's second largest dam has declined to 6.6%.

The company's acting chief of water supply for the South, Andries Kok, told Namibian Sun that by Monday the Hardap Dam now contained only 19.58 million cubic metres of water.

The dam's capacity is 294.5 million cubic metres. This time last year the dam was 33.3% full.

According to Kok, water supply to the irrigation scheme will be stopped when the dam reaches 4.8%, which is equivalent to 14 million cubic metres of water.

“Originally it was planned to stop supply to the irrigation scheme by the end of December last year, but due to saving measures implemented by producers the date will most probably be extended to the end of January,” he said.

Kok said a new depletion analysis will be done within the next week to determine the final date.

He said once supply was stopped to the irrigation scheme, there would be sufficient water for Mariental until the end of March 2021.

“This is when the dam reaches 1.5%, which is equivalent to 4.3 million cubic metres of water. This means we still have two rainy seasons available to get inflow into the dam, from the current season as well as the 2020/2021 rainy season,” said Kok.

At a level of 1.5% the dam reaches the so-called “dead storage” area where the water level is lower than the ordinary abstraction points, he explained.

“Water will still be available, but should be abstracted by means of additional pumps that need to be installed into the dam basin.”

Kok added that once water supply to the irrigation scheme was stopped, more stress would be put on the potable water system.

He said NamWater was therefore installing a booster station on the potable water system which would be able to supply more potable water than normal.

This booster station will not be finished by the end of January, though, meaning that the next few months will be tough for residents.

“There is a little bit of river flow at the moment, which might result in very little inflow at this stage, but still insignificant,” he added.

The chairperson of the Hardap Farmers' Association, Dawie de Klerk, dismissed it as a “myth” that NamWater would stop providing water to the irrigation scheme at the end of this month.

De Klerk said the cut-off point for raw water delivery to the irrigation scheme was at 4.5% of the Hardap Dam's capacity. According to him if the dam reaches 4.5% there will still be enough potable water until March 2021 in case there is no inflow.



De Klerk further said that local farmers in November last year committed themselves to stop production on 40% of their irrigated land to mitigate the situation until February when the main rainy season starts.



According to De Klerk only 60% of the about 2 100 hectares is therefore under irrigation.



“The bit of good news that I can give is that there is some inflow currently into the dam,” De Klerk said.



Kok, on the other hand, said it was a fact that water supply to the irrigation would be stopped if there was no inflow and that it had been discussed with all stakeholders.



“This is why producers agreed to cut production by 40% to stretch the water in the dam to the end of January.”



It was reported last year that about 3.5 billion litres of water released in August 2017 from the Hardap Dam to feed the N$5.7 billion Neckartal Dam, 123 kilometres away, evaporated before reaching the intended destination.



When NamWater announced in 2017 that the Hardap sluices would be opened to release water for the Neckartal Dam, it said that in the event of insufficient inflow into Hardap during the 2017/2018 season, the situation would be addressed with stakeholders after that rainy season.



Meanwhile, in the central area of Namibia the Swakoppoort Dam has had an inflow of 0.104 million cubic metres, raising its level to 5.5% from the previous week's 5.3%. Last season the level of the dam was 22.2%.



The Omatako Dam has had an inflow of 3.9 million cubic metres and the dam is now at 23% of its capacity, up from last week when it was 14% full. Last season the dam was at 1.1%.



The average level of the dams in central Namibia currently stands at 22.6% in comparison to last season's 27% full.



In the Gobabis area the average dam level is 13.5% compared to 3% last season.



In the South, which has some of the country's largest dams, the average stands at 22.8% compared to last season when it was 40.1%, while in the north the average is 3.6% compared to last season when the dams were empty.



The average of Namibia's dams by Monday stood at 21.5%, which is equivalent to 148.4 million cubic metres of water. Last season the average was 32.8%.



ellanie@namibiansun.com

ELLANIE SMIT