D ISEÑO DE CASOS DE PRUEBA

6.9 IS THERE SPACE FOR A SUSTAINABLE PRIVATE EDUCATION FACILITY IN A RURAL TOWN LIKE ORANJEMUND?

The provision of a private school in a Namibian town is regarded as the main aim of this study. The recommendations in this regard thus focus specifically on the provision of a private education facility.

The provision of the private school cannot happen in isolation, since it forms part of the education solution the Mine is seeking. The first three headings will deal with the policies that were analysed.

The rest of the points are recommendations for the way forward in establishing whether there is a space for a private school in Oranjemund.

6.9.1 GRN policies

It would be very challenging to make recommendations from this study regarding the policies of the MoEAC regarding private school education. There is a Regional Education Forum where all walks of society are represented. This Forum has a mandate from the Minister of Education to make recommendations regarding educational matters. Perhaps through this channel the following recommendations could be put forward for consideration:

• The focus of the subsidy should be on creating additional spaces in private schools, especially in areas where the GRN’s provision of educational facilities and infrastructure is insufficient.

• The GRN subsidy and the calculation per learner should be revised. The amount of money made available per learner at a private school must be in line with the basic cost per learner at that particular school (tuition, uniform, textbooks, stationery and the basic needs must be

covered for these learners). The cost must be realistic in terms of the cost of offering basic education per learner.

• The GRN subsidy must contribute to additional staff needed for 10% learners.

• The GRN subsidy must support developments at the school in terms of infrastructure, additional classrooms, toilets, etc.

It is generally argued that the GRN schools are battling to overcome financial constraints. If the GRN needs support from the private sector for education, it needs to contribute significantly in order to make the application of the GRN subsidy lucrative for the governing structures of private schools.

6.9.2 Namdeb education policy

The Namdeb education policy in its current form will have to be adjusted to be in line with the transformation of the town. The primary school of the private school would in all likelihood remain under the governance of Namdeb for as long as the LoM allows it. As indicated in the education solution, the secondary school will be transferred to the MoEAC. It would be important to recommend changes to the policy, bearing the following in mind:

• The objective or purpose of the policy.

• The hermeneutical interpretation of the policy. The policy must be put in text that is easy to understand and to implement. Both the originator of the policy and the employee (receiver of the policy) must be able to interpret and understand the policy in the same manner. Their views and understandings/perceptions must be the same.

• The policy must be in line with the requirements of the future of the town. It must be in line with the town transformation processes.

• The policy must encourage parents to enrol their children in the private school.

• The policy must not place restrictions on admittance to the private school.

The age of learners attending the private primary school needs to be stipulated, as well as the admission age. The application process in its current form is suitable for the current needs. An addition to the application form would be a completed contract between the school and the parent/guardian regarding the payment of the school fees. This contract must cover the issue of non-payment of school fees and clearly stipulate the processes involved in recovering arrears.

The education policy makes no provision for married Namdeb employees with children from a previous marriage where the spouse is not a Namdeb employee. The policy should be adapted so that a marriage certificate is sufficient for registering the child as a member of the family.

The requirements in terms of applications from non-Namdeb employees/parents may remain in place to prevent children from being dumped with families in Oranjemund. Namdeb must reconsider the practice of subsidising children from parents who are not working for the Mine. If this practice is to remain in place, the changes to the policy might include a sliding scale of ‘discount’ a parent would receive in terms of the scarcity of the parent’s skill supporting the diamond production efforts of Namdeb. In other words, sub-contractors with skills important for production could be taken into consideration for a Namdeb education subsidy.

The education policy currently stipulates that Grade 0 is not compulsory. This would need to be changed, since the GRN reintroduced pre-primary education as being compulsory (MoE, 2010). The age for admission and for transfer to the next grade must be added to the policy, especially as the child must pass a school readiness test for admission to Grade 1 at the private school.

The education policy must make provision for an academic entry test. There currently are no entry tests that allow a child to be entered into the private school. All new arrivals need to be tested to establish the level of the learners’ skills and development in the previous school. The private school management will then place the learner in the grade recommended by the previous school. In cases where developmental milestones and competencies have not been reached, the private school management may advise the parents to either allow the child to repeat the previous grade, or the parents would be advised about remedial steps to be taken. Assistance would be needed at home to make sure that the child soon reaches all milestones and is able to perform at optimal levels.

6.9.3 Namdeb accommodation policy

The Namdeb policy in its current form will be dealt with and changed according to the benefits and entitlement status of the employees. The Mine is currently proposing to sell properties to the employees. This would effectively mean that employees who are parents with children at the private school would own private properties. The school has no jurisdiction over private matters in terms of the type of housing they can afford or are entitled to. Some Namdeb employees may select to stay on under current conditions, which means that they will receive a housing allowance from Namdeb.

They are allowed to apply for accommodation from the Mine or from another property owner. The school will have no jurisdiction over the private affairs of employees who are parents.

The private school will deal with all matters related to the learners’ domestic issues as stipulated in the Education Act. Regular contact and referrals to the relevant Ministries protecting the rights of children will be maintained.