Category: Education

As thousands of students make last minute preparations for the official entrance examinations into the higher education sectors, many have expressed frustration with the compilation and registration process of these exams.

Some describe the process as very tedious, complex, time and money consuming.

“The process was not easy for me, I almost gave up. You are asked to certify many documents and all those documents can not be done in just one office. I had to move from the DO’s office to that of the mayor, then go for non-conviction and other places. Just to note that all these places can not be visited on one day because firstly, there are always so many people, you have to be on the line for a very long time, secondly, at times when you succeed to hand the documents, they either ask you to come in the afternoon or the next day,” one of the candidates told CNA.

“The most frustrating part of the registration process is when you have gone through all the stress of certifying documents and are about to deposit. When you go there, there are so many people, you have to wait almost the whole day because your documents need to be crosschecked. Imagine one of your documents are not okay, you have to go back before coming back to stand on a line again,” the applicant further explained.

Another candidate said this tedious process has led to fake agents; “There are also people who stand as agents to facilitate in student’s processes but end up going away with their money. My younger sister was registering for one of the official exams, since we did not have time to follow-up all these tedious processes, we gave an agent all her documents and money, but did not see him again,”

Some other students told CNA that, they felt discouraged during the registration process and gave up. This they say is because at times the space for students to get into the schools are very limited but they saw thousands of students registering for same exams.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The Government of Cameroon through its ministry of basic education has shut down 494 clandestine schools in basic education sector in 6 regions of the country in prelude to the start of the new academic year come September 4, 2023.

In a release from the the Minister of basic education, Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa, signed on Wednesday August 23, 2023, the schools have been locked down for serious violations noticed during field trips carried out by teams from the private basic education follow-up department of the ministry of secondary education.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Two weeks to the start of the 2023-2024 academic year, Principals of various technical institutions say the number of students seeking admission is on the rise each year.

A case in point is the Government Technical High School Bamelo in Babadjou subdivision, west region of Cameroon where a total of 198 candidates sat for entrance examinations into the second cycle of the institution. Of the 198 who sat in for the exams, 67 were from the general education sector. An increase from the 40 who sat in last year.

“What motivates me to go in for the technical section is because I discovered that many of my elders who did this are working. Some people have been crying of being jobless after their degree and I don’t want to fall in the same trap,” a candidate at the entrance examination centre explains.

“I went in for the technical section because my parents asked me to do so. They say they want me to be self-employed in future,” another candidate says.

Some parents say general education is just a waste of time and resources.

“General education in Cameroon has lost its value. There are many graduates who are doing nothing with their diplomas just because the country is making things tough for them. I prefer that my children go to technical schools,” a parent explains.

The high level of unemployment in the country has create a need more than ever before, for self-employment.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Swanu vice president Alpha Kangueehi has questioned the implementation of free education in public schools in Namibia.

Speaking to Nampa in an interview, Kangueehi raised concern that the Government of Namibia promised free education but “has not done anything to accomplish this dream” as parents are still forced to pay ‘voluntary’ school fees.

“There is no free education as things stand now, parents are forced to pay for things like toilet paper, they are buying their own stationery, imagine some schools are asking for nine toilet paper rolls per child, it is an awkward situation. The government is failing us with the universal free education as it is a provision in our Constitution, honestly,” he said.

Kangueehi said the current situation will jeopardise the education system and has led to parents not sending their children to school anymore because of financial problems.

“If one goes to the ministry now they will be told that parents who cannot afford it, can negotiate with schools and be exempted from this voluntary contribution. Parents are begging to have their kids admitted because they cannot afford the so-called voluntary contribution,” he said.

He further said hostels are expensive and appear to cater for well-off families only.

“An impoverished parent cannot send kids to school hostels, and this is affecting our school performance as these kids are left to study under very challenging circumstances,” he said.

Responding to Kangueehi, Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture Public Relations Officer Esther Angula said the ministry is acting in accordance with the Education Amendment Act No. 14 of 2017, which introduces changes to Section 25 subsection 9(a) that addresses the parental contribution to school funds.

“The Act outlines that a School Development Fund (SDF) comprises funds gathered from various sources, including voluntary contributions from individuals, donations, bequests, and funds raised through approved fundraising campaigns or school-related activities endorsed by the principal and school board,” Angula said.

She noted that it is important to clarify that the contribution mentioned is intended to be a voluntary undertaking, as explicitly stated in the provisions of Act 14 of 2017.

“The Act emphasises the voluntary nature of these contributions and underlines that they should not be enforced as compulsory payments,” she indicated.

Furthermore, it is worth noting that this contribution is not solely limited to parents; academic sympathisers and supporters of education also have the opportunity to participate in this voluntarily, the PRO responded.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today graduates thousands of commandos that have undergone rigorous training at Bilate Commando and Airborne Training Center.

The Bilate Commando and Airborne Training Center graduated commandos that have undergone rigorous training in various difficult scenarios that call for dealing with dire obstacles with swift actions.

Marking the occasion, the trainees showcased the acquired skills during a large scale mock exercise, according to the Office of the Prime Minister.

As part of the activities, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed also reviewed and opened an amphitheater constructed by the training center with the capacity of seating in thousands and planted seedlings at the Bilate Center.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Ethiopian Aviation University has graduated 1,551 aviation professionals in pilot training, aviation maintenance, cabin crew, commercial, and hotel operations professions today.

Congratulating the graduates, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, Mesfin Tassew said human capital development is one of the key pillars in Ethiopian Airlines growth strategic road map.

“Today’s graduation is a testimony of our commitment to ensure that we invest a lot on our aviation brainery,” the CEO said, reaffirming: “As part of our continental commitment, we will continue to provide Africa with skilled aviation professionals.”

Ethiopian is delighted to see today youths from African countries completing one chapter and opening another in their aviation endeavor, he said.

“We believe in the potentials of Africa’s youths to shape the continent’s aviation and continue to educate them at our center of excellence. Today the industry welcomes 660 male and 891 female graduates.”

Since its formation in 1956, Ethiopian Aviation Excellence Center has been offering various aviation courses, mainly to African youths.

Youths from Rwanda, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Uganda and Sudan completed their studies.

Currently, the University offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs in aerospace and hospitality fields.

Areas of fields of studies include BSc in aeronautical engineering, aviation maintenance engineering, aviation management and operations, BA in tourism and hospitality management, MSc in data science, and MBA in aviation management.

The University also offers diploma and certificate programs for technicians in aircraft maintenance, pilot training, cabin crew and commercial training, leadership and career development, catering training.

Ethiopian has also training facilities in regional cities including in Hawassa, Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar and Mekelle.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

Chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council management committee, Benitha Imbamba, has emphasised the importance of acknowledging and awarding teachers’ outstanding performances.

Imbamba was speaking Wednesday night at the 2023 Erongo Regional Awards at Swakopmund where teachers and schools were recognised for their exceptional performance in 2022.

According to the chairperson, the tireless efforts teachers put in preparing and shaping the future leaders is of great significance and should therefore not go unnoticed.

“I am fully aware of the challenges that teachers face on a daily basis as well as the great responsibility that rests on their shoulders, to produce productive members of society and I would like to highly commend all teachers as well as other educational workers, for their exemplary job,” she expressed.

Imbamba noted that the number of educators awarded at the event speaks volumes of their dedication to realise the region’s mission, which is to provide quality services to all the stakeholders in education.

The chairperson further called on teachers to stand up for and fight for the profession which was once respected and admired, by taking accountability of the shortcomings and gaining motivation, which is something she said teachers have recently lost.

Swakopmund Mayor Dina Namubes at the same event applauded the significant roles played by the teachers in contributing towards educating the nation that should therefore not be underestimated.

Meanwhile, Riverside Private School (PS) and Karibib PS excelled at the awards.

Riverside PS scooped the Top Performing award for Grade 11 in the Ordinary Level School category in the region, where they came in at position 8 out of 363 schools countrywide, while Karibib PS was awarded the Top performing Grade 12 Advance Subsidiary Level School in the region, coming in at 8th position out of 121 schools nationally.

Kuisebmund Secondary School won the Most Improved School in the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) level national examinations, moving from position 132 to 26 out of 363 schools nationally.

The school also received the same award in the NSSC AS level moving up to 30th position out of 121 schools nationally from 54th position the previous year.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency