Day: October 22, 2023

A 13-year-old boy, Sintat Michel, a victim of corporal punishment at College Bilingue de L’Agape in Douala where he schools, is still undergoing treatment at a clinic in the Cité Cic neighborhood. He is unable to eat, sit, stand, or move his body, CNA learned.

Reports say he was severely beaten by his Chemistry and Physics teacher, Liessok Ngaleu Serge on Friday, October 20, 2023.

“We learned the teacher gave him over 20 strokes, leaving him with wounds on his back, buttocks, and hands. When the cane got broken, he pounced on him with his fist. Blood was all over him.” Raul Rèlles, an uncle to Sintat Michel recounted.

Michel, according to his classmate was making noise in class and distracting other students.

In reaction, the Dean of Studies, Isidore Nchopba Asongna called for a meeting between the said staff and the parents of the student.

“We had a long discussion during which the Principal decided to take care of the hospital bill. A disciplinary council has been scheduled to take place on Monday, October 23 to be chaired by the Principal himself.” Disclosed the Dean of Studies.

Parents of Sintat Michel who hope severe sanctions be taken against the teacher said, their son might fully recover after a month.

The Minister of Secondary Education, Prof Nalova Lyonga on January 16, 2023, prohibited any form of corporal punishment in secondary schools in Cameroon.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

OTJIWARONGO: Hundreds of Swapo Party members across the country on Saturday welcomed 200 new members who joined the party, at a star rally held for the ruling party at Otjiwarongo in the Otjozondjupa Region.

Swapo Party Vice President and the 2024 Presidential candidate of Swapo, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah who was the keynote speaker at the rally, welcomed the new members, of whom the majority are from the National Unity Democratic Organisation (Nudo) in the Okakarara Constituency.

In her speech, Nandi-Ndaitwah said Swapo will do its utmost best to reclaim all it lost during the 2015 and 2020 national elections.

“Swapo is the ruling party of this country, therefore, we will make sure that economic development takes place while putting the interest of the people at heart,” she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah further stated that the 2022 internal party campaigns for the Swapo positions are over, and now the party’s aim was to restore unity among its members so that they unitedly defeat the opposition political party rivals in the 2024 Presidential and National Assembly elections, as well as in 2025 Regional and Local Authority elections.

She then called out the two political rivals she internally contested with at the Swapo Party congress in 2022 on the position of Swapo Party Vice President, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila and Pohamba Shifeta to come join her at the front at the rally.

The trio danced together as a symbol of unity to the musical beats of the Ndilimani Cultural Troupe.

Several Cabinet ministers, regional executive committee members of Swapo from the 14 regions, governors, and many party supporters across the country who were present at the rally in Otjiwarongo on Saturday, also danced to the liberation struggle songs Ndilimani had performed.

Swapo Party Secretary-General Sophia Shaningwa as well as the country Vice President, Nangolo Mbumba also attended.

The rally was held at the DRC informal settlement soccer field at the town.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

OMUTHIYA: The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture (MoEAC) Oshikoto regional director, Alleta Eises has encouraged learners to enrol at Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) to gain practical skills and be self employed.

Eises was speaking at the Omuthiya Vocational Training Centre (OMVTC) fundraising gala dinner held on Saturday at Omuthiya in the Oshikoto region, where she stressed that vocational training is the future compared to conventional education as it prepares students to create jobs for themselves.

“In Namibia, after graduation, thousands of students cannot be employed because they are graduates from conventional education and we need VTCs to prepare learners to create employment for themselves,” said Eises.

She noted some graduates from conventional education, have marched to the Prime Minister’s office for employment, saying VTC graduates will always create their own employment and employ others as well.

She said in this millennium, vocational training will stand the test of time as it provides practical skills to learners.

“Vocational Training does not prepare students to look for jobs but it trains them to be masters of their craft,” said Eises.

She said she has observed that thousands of the students cannot be employed because they go for white collar jobs which are already occupied, neglecting and undermining VTC.

OMVTC has currently 70 students and has raised a total of N.dollar 79 325 from the gala dinner to purchase workshop equipment and land.

Its chairperson Mocks Shivute said they established the centre in 2022 and offer vocational training programmes such as auto mechanics, welding and metal fabrication, hospitality and tourism and office administration.

Meanwhile, Shivute Buildware and Hardware Supplies sales associate, Patience Majova pledged automotive mechanics, welding and metal fabrication tools worth N.dollars 45 500 to the institution as an investment that would curb unemployment in the country through increased vocational education institutions support.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

AUSSENKEHR: An employee at the Namibia Grape Company Immanuel Kambwale won the 11th edition of the Namibia Grape Company marathon here on Sunday morning.

Introduced in 2013, the marathon is part of the 21st annual sports tournament organised by the Namibia Grape Company in collaboration with Capespan Grape Company for the employees of all nine grape companies at Aussenkehr.

The tournament also features football, netball, tug of war and volleyball and saw this year, over 50 employees partaking in the 22-kilometre (km) and 11km categories.

Kambwale finished the race in one hour and eleven minutes (01:11) to walk away with N.dollars 2000.

Speaking to Nampa after the race on Sunday, Kambwale said he worked hard in preparation for the race.

“I really prepared myself towards this race. The race was fine besides the fact that it was hot, it was tough and I am happy that I won,” he added.

In the 11km women category, 29-year-old Rauna Lukas from Frontier Grape Company came first and walked away with N.dollars 1000. In the 11km veteran women category, 42 -year-old Desderia Dula from Silverland Vineyard came first while 46-year-old Vinantius Gawanab from Agrimark also came first in the 11km veteran men category and both walked away with N.dollars 1000 each.

Chairperson of the organizing team, Moses Nakashimba, expressed satisfaction with how the participants ran the race adding that the number of participants in the race has been increasing over the years

“Participants are increasing each year and this year we had between 50 to 60 participants and it seems that participants are preparing very well too and we got people from outside,” he said.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s quest for access to sea and alternative ports through legal agreements is quite pertinent and needs to be addressed given her age old proximity and historical linkage with the sea ports.

Scholars from Haromaya, Jimma and Gambela universities said that it is appropriate to strongly work on accessing port facilities through agreements, amicable negotiations and mutual equity with due respect to the sovereignty of port owning neighboring countries.

Instructor and researcher at Haromaya University Dr. Reta Duguma told ENA that Ethiopia has been using Adulis, Masawa and Assab ports for ages by developing the facilities.

He remarked that as the past history of the country indicates, Ethiopia has never been a landlocked country and had stronger economic bondage with these ports.

The scholar further recalled that ever since the establishment of the Axumite Empire around 2nd century B.C, Ethiopia has been conducting commercial relations with the neighboring and distant countries through these ports.

Dr. Reta added that Ethiopia had invested huge amount of wealth on these ports including her investments on the Port of Assab in the 1950s.

“The UN Convention on the utilization of ports by landlocked countries provides that such countries can access ports through mutual discussions and agreements with port owner countries with due respect to the sovereignty of port owning countries, “ he added.

Instructor of history and researcher, Dr. Ketebo Abdiyo said for his part that Ethiopia used to own Adulis and Azuli ports from ancient times. He added that up until 1991, Ethiopia owned Adulis, Massawa and Assab ports.

He noted that given the above mentioned historical settings, Ethiopia’s quest for access to sea and port services is appropriate but it is necessary to carefully consider how the country can access to the ports.

A PHD candidate and instructor of history at Gambela Health Science College, Beyene Hameretibeb said that Ethiopia had owned and developed the Port of Assab.

He remarked that the cession of Eritrea from Ethiopia through a referendum should not have given Eretria an exclusive ownership of the port.

Ownership and accession of sea port is a vital factor for the economic development of any country and Ethiopia’s proposal to access these ports is appropriate that should be addressed, he added.

Beyene stressed that Ethiopia’s demand for sea ports synchronizes with international maritime laws and treaties.

He added that the resolution 390-5 passed by the UN in 1952 has a positive implication for access to seas by landlocked countries.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, The 2023 China-Africa Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Cooperation Seminar and China-Africa TVET collaboration and coordination meeting held today in Addis Ababa.

The Seminar was organized in collaboration of China-Africa Vocational Education Alliance and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Labor and skills.

Pertinent institutions and professionals drawn from both sides have participated in the event and discussed issues vital to advancing TVET, explore opportunities, address challenges, and draw insights from Chinese successful practices.

This pivotal event also stands as a hallmark in bilateral relations, specifically within the realm of Technical and vocational Education and Training among the two countries, it was learned.

Aligned with the principles of Belt and Road Initiative, the event contributes to the high-quality development of cooperative efforts between Ethiopia and china.

According to China-Africa Vocational Education Alliance, the collaboration between China and Ethiopia has evolved into a robust diplomatic and economic alliance.

This fruitful partnership extends to the heart of the TVET sector. In January, the China –Africa Vocational Education Alliance and Ministry of labor and Skills of Ethiopia formalized their commitment through a Memorandum of Understanding.

The collaboration encompasses diverse activities, ranging from the review and enhancement of Ethiopia’s occupational standards to development of national curriculum, quality assurance measures, and accreditation processes.

Speaking on the occasion, State Ministry of the Labor and Skills Teshale Beracha pointed out that events like this one significantly contribute to strengthening the longstanding relations between Ethiopia and China.

According to him, the collaboration in TVET is not merely an academic endeavor, it is a bridge connecting the two nations, fostering mutual understanding and reinforcing the bonds that tie them together.

Director General of the China–Africa Vocational Education Alliance, Mark Gong on his part highlighted the Alliance’s comprehensive collaboration with the Ministry of Labor and skills in Ethiopia.

The efforts span various areas, including industry development, economic infrastructure, mining and extraction, health, Agriculture, Trade and Business, sport culture, and Tourism. he added.

The China-Africa Vocational Education Alliance was established in 2021 with the objective of promoting TVET collaboration between China and countries in Africa.

The Alliance has already launched projects in countries in Africa, including Ethiopia.

The government of Ethiopia has been working to strengthen the development of vocational and technical education considering the crucial importance of the sector to expediting economic development.

In this regard, China-Africa Vocational Education Alliance is expected to play key role in realizing this national agenda.

The alliance works to connect various vocational colleges, enterprises, trade associations, experts and scholars of China and Ethiopia, and strive to build a new platform for in-depth and comprehensive vocational education in the world.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Addis Ababa, A delegation of World Health Organization (WHO) comprised of officials and experts from the Headquarters and Regional office is in Addis Ababa for a working visit in Ethiopia.

The objective of the visit is to see the rehabilitation services being underway in Ethiopia, according to Ministry of Heath.

The visit also aims at providing support to Ethiopia’s rehabilitation efforts and strengthening the rehabilitation program to regions affected due to conflict, it was noted.

The delegation is expected to meet with officials of sector ministries including Health, Women and Social Affairs as well as National Rehabilitation Commission and other pertinent actors.

The visit is also believed to create great opportunity to strengthen Ethiopia’s effort in rehabilitation services.

According to Ministry of Health, following the discussion with all stakeholders and partners, a joint plan of action is expected to be prepared at the conclusion of the visit.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency