Grade 11 learners to apply to tertiary institutions

This year the education ministry has implemented the use of the new curriculum which allows grade 11 learners to graduate from high school. The Zone spoke to a few universities to find out what is the status quo in allowing these learners to apply to their institutions.
JUSTISIA SHIPENA
MONIQUE ADAMS



Since the announcement that learners with grade 11 can choose to apply to university or continue to get a grade 12 certificate, we asked institutions how they have prepared for this and what are the steps moving forward.

The International University of Management (IUM) will accept learners straight out of grade 11 for the 2021 academic year.

According to Gerry Wilson Munyama, IUM director of marketing and communications, all entry-level qualifications which currently take in students straight from grade 12 will now be open for entry to learners from grade 11.

“The university has already amended its admission requirements to allow students with NSSCO certificate from grade 11 to gain admission into any of our certificate or degree programmes,” he says.

Munyama adds that grade 11 learners applying to the university will follow exactly the same procedure as those with grade 12 used to do, and they will apply with their August school examination results.

“Students will be admitted provisionally, pending the outcome of their final year-end NSSCO examinations. For learners from schools who did not write the August examinations due to Covid-19 situation and lockdown measures, they may apply using their latest available grade 11 results.”

The Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust) encourages all current grade 11 learners to apply for any programme that they qualify for.

Kuda Brandt, Nust acting director of marketing and communications, says for some professional programmes such as engineering, which require a pass on higher level, the institution offers a bridging programme.

“This programme is referred to as the Introduction to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (InSTEM), which is purposely designed to strengthen the competences of students in basic sciences, mathematics and English communication,” she explains.

Brandt says upon successful completion of InSTEM, students will be eligible for admission to undergraduate programmes in the STEM areas, depending on the specific requirements of the relevant faculties.

The Zone also reached out to University of Namibia (Unam), which said it was still in talks with its partners.

Information outlining the admission requirements and point scales will be sent to all schools. This will inform the life skills teachers to help guide the learners on the best choices to make, depending on the field of studies the learners have chosen at secondary level.