The Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr Richard Nchabi Kamwi gave a stern warning to the Caprivi Regional Education Office following the declining rate of education in the region.

Kamwi who made the remarks during the Edu-Sector health day held at the Caprivi College of Education could not hide his dissatisfaction as he called on the Education Regional Director together with the teaching staff to pull themselves from underneath and commit themselves in providing quality education similar to the past. “Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate, Ordinary and Higher level results for 2008, Caprivi was number 10 and 13 out of 13 regions compared to the past when the passing rate was one of the best”.

The Minister urged both the regional office, teachers and learners to re-strategies their teaching and learning methods in order to attain the passing rates they had in the past since the region is able be one of the best country-wide.

Dr. Kamwi also pointed out the rate of alcohol abuse in the region that has become a serious concern, as the traditional brewed beer ‘tombo’ is easily accessible.

He cautioned teachers and learners from taking alcohol as this can destroy the state of education, which already seems to be at its worse stage in the region.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Party of the USAID funded NEPP project, Muhammed Liman informed teachers that a teacher’s job is a 24 hour mandate to teach, care for and see to the general academic and emotional well being of children under their care.

 He further noted, that teachers are admired by members of their communities and therefore need to be good role models for especially the learners.

 The AED, which is funded from USAID due to the vital nature of education in Africa decided to support the Ministry of Education with specific programmes that targets to equip teachers with information and other preventative strategies to reduce the spread of the pandemic amongst teachers and their families.

Research done by the Ministry of Education in April 2008 indicates that Caprivi Region has the lowest percentage of teachers who have access to Voluntary Counseling and Testing services.

The Edu-Sector Health day aims at amongst others, creating an urgent sense of awareness amongst the education sector employees focusing on knowing how important it is to know their general state of health and provide and encourage uptake of voluntary counseling and testing for all education sector employees.

The event was been equally organised by the Ministry of Education through its HIV and AIDS Management Unit (HAMU), the Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) and the Academy for Educational Development (AED).