You are here: home >>directorates >>regional directorates >>Erongo region

Directorates

Regional Directorates of Education

Erongo Region

This script provided by
JavaScript Kit and powered by Google.

Erongo Region Strives for provision of quality education to all learners though planned interventions. Hence the motto for 2005 “Improving learner performance through quality service by all”. To realize the motto and to respond to the learners, the region has inter alia, set the following objectives for 2005/2006:

· Implementation of the PAAI (Plan of Action for Academic improvement)

· Cluster management exchange visits to learn best practices

· Operation “red schools” to improve Grade 10 results of identified schools

· Improving access to Junior Secondary schools by extending to Grade 8 at rural schools

· Awareness to parents on enrolment of learners, school development fund and overall information on Education.

Parents were sensitized on the advantages of schooling and encouraged to apply for school places well in advance. This was done through general parent meetings organized by inspectors.

Inspectors successfully facilitated the placement of learners who failed to find school places, especially in grades 1, 8 and 11.

Duinesig P.S. and Kamwandi P.S. extended their curriculum to Grade 8 at the beginning of 2006. Both schools have implemented a double shift, due to a lack of class rooms. Festus Gonteb P.S. has phased in Grade 7 and is now a full phased primary school. Only 5 schools in the Erongo Region remain to extend their curriculum to be full phased primary schools.

Improving Quality of Education

The new Lower Primary Curriculum was implemented in Grades 1 and 2. In the new curriculum, the readiness programme is integrated in all subjects. Grade 3 and 4 teachers were trained at the end of 2005 in the new curriculum, which will be implemented in the beginning of 2006. For a second year NAMSOV funded the Erongo spring school for Grade 10 learners. This proved to be a huge success. Five primary schools were visited to provide guidance and support, although the targeted four per region was not achieved. A Reading Comprehension workshop for Primary teachers was conducted to enhance English proficiency. It has become apparent, that especially teachers from the Lower Primary have difficulties in reading, writing and understanding English. This has hampered the transfer of skills, especially in the teaching of reading.

The implementation of the PAAI document to improve management and learners performance was preceded by a mini-workshop for principals in Omaruru. After implementation, reports were submitted to the inspectors of education every trimester. Each school developed a school development and maintenance plan. The instruments were provided to the schools and discussions were held at cluster level. Inspectors together with Cluster Centre Principals paid school visits to schools in the Omaruru and Omatjete clusters. This proved to be once again a most valuable exercise for all involved. All four coastal clusters received assistance from Science Fair committee members for their internal Science Fairs. The regional Science Fair concluded on a high note, since one learner, Lionel van Zyl, was successful in participating in the ESI International Science Fair in Chile in July 2005.

General parent meetings were held in circuits in Otjimbingwe, Waldfrieden, Swakopmund, Arandis, Kuisebmond and Narraville. The purpose of the meetings was to inform or make parents aware of issues in the Education Act and to strengthen the participation of parents.

back to top

Construction of two classrooms at and the full renovation of Karibib Junior Secondary School was successfully completed. Severe weather conditions at the coast necessitated major repairs of roofs, fences and foundations at four coastal schools. Two schools, Omatjete Primary and Namib primary were enrolled in the pilot programme for School Maintenance successfully. Water problems in the rural areas were compounded by the slow initiation of relief programs.

The objective of collecting 100% of revenue has been achieved, as well as the payment of 93% of gratuities to beneficiaries. All newly appointed sub-receivers were trained and provided with a copy of the State Finance Act/Treasury instructions. The Senior Accountant attended the National Training Seminar on Costs, Financing and Budgeting for Education.

Cluster programmes such as regular principals’ meetings, subject group meetings have been successfully carried out. Advisory teachers are involved in most of the cluster activities and have attended scheduled cluster meetings together with Inspectors. A moderation system of key subjects for grade 7 was implemented and all Advisory teachers were involved in the moderation of Cluster examination papers. School boards have been motivated, strengthened and empowered through training and meetings for information sharing. Cluster Centre Principals participated in the annual regional planning where they actively contributed towards the setting of objectives for the year ahead.

Both Teachers’ Resource Centers were successful in acquiring computer equipment through donations. Funds were also solicited for upgrading Teachers’ Resource Centers library resources.

The Manager of the Swakopmund TRC attended a Performance Indicator Workshop during April 2005 as well as the Library assistant, who attended workshops scheduled through NIED in upgrading skills. This training enhances the capacities at the Teachers’ Resource Centers and results in an improved customer care.

An inspection of all hostel facilities was conducted. This was to ascertain the condition and care of all facilities. A digital photo report was prepared and tabled and discussed with Regional Management, the Hostel officer and Inspectors from the Ministry of Works and Transport. Recommendations regarding the maintenance and upkeep were taken into setting specific priorities for the next financial year. Hostels were visited and staff addressed regarding food provision, storage, preparation, recording and control. Chief Hostel matrons were trained in topics such as standardized recipes and catering contract, quality-cleaning principles, and calculation of remunerative overtime. Assistance was also rendered by the hostel division toward the organization of the annual Spring school.

The newly opened Grade 6 special class is progressing well. Learners in this class followed a reading improvement programme with success. A refresher-training course in basic counselling skills has been successfully concluded. Further training of CSG members of each school in bereavement counselling skills was completed in March 2006. A drug policy is implemented in all coastal primary schools and in all Erongo secondary schools. The drug Policy was brought in line with Education Act and will be sent to schools early in 2006. Discussions by principals during CCP meetings followed. If discussions have a positive result, the policy is to be implemented in 2006 or 2007.

back to top

HIV and AIDS slogan competition was launched for schools in the region to come up with the AIDS awareness week’s slogan. “Wake up Namibians AIDS is real; only you have power to stop it from spreading” was selected as the winning entry. Window of hope workshop for the Grade 6 and 7 teachers were conducted successfully in Swakopmund and Omaruru. In total 31 teachers were trained in the activities of the senior Window. In 2005, “My Future My Choice” programme set a target to reach 1200 young people. This target was almost met as we managed to reach 704 learners at schools and 120 Juveniles at three prisons.

Adult learners’ week was celebrated in Uis. Motivational speeches were delivered by a select group of speakers who encouraged adult learners to embrace lifelong learning as an empowerment of all formally disadvantaged. The family literacy project was piloted successfully in Otjimbingwe community with 22 parent participants of Grade 1 learners. The Community Library and Development Centre in Karibib is frequented regularly by community members and the surrounding areas. A youth theatre group was established at the CLDC and members were trained in stage setting. This was done to promote reading skills through drama, educate the community on HIV/AIDS and related developmental issues. Loans were registered to 8 entrepreneurs through the ASDSE programme. Rössing Foundation trained them. All entrepreneurs have started paying back the loans on monthly instalment basis and have proven to be responsible borrowers.

Much time was spent on administrative tasks and requests received from head office. These were hampering professional staff members from keeping to the scheduled work program. As suggested in the previous report, this constraint can be taken care of by creation of posts of clerks and clerical assistants at circuit offices. The increasing demand for school places in Grades 1 and 8 in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund is presenting a major challenge. The planned construction of extra classrooms at some of the existing schools will provide some relief, but will not be adequate to address the need in future as the allocated capital budget for the region only allows for building of one or two classrooms per annum.

Although all planned activities could not be carried out due to other pressing issues, the year proved to be a productive and satisfying one. The support obtained from BEP/GTZ project to make some of the activities (school board training, CCP’s visit to schools) possible is much appreciated. Despite numerous achievements, the major challenge remains to provide schools with adequate classroom furniture and textbooks.

The management of the Erongo Regional Office would like to express its gratitude to all who contributed to the achievements and commits itself to address all challenges which are within the control of the region. Library outreach services to outlying communities like Otjimbingwe, Okombahe, Omatjete and Usakos need to be considered to enable the promotion of reading in the region.

back to top

© Ministry of Education - Namibia 2008
To give feedback and evaluate this site click here