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Should the matric farewell be hosted in Grade 11 or 12?

Simonay Forbes



With the new cirricullum currently in force at schools across Namibia, a number of changes have been and will be implemented. Some of these include that the current grade 9’s will write semi-external examinations, while Grade 10 is no part of the senior secondary phase. The first exit point for learners will be grade 11 and those who wish to complete their subjects on higher level will proceed to grade 12. Some of the challenges now faced by schools is when to choose their learner representative council and when to host the matric farewell. The Duine se Lyne editorial team spoke to a few Grade 10 learners to hear what they have to say.

Edith Garises

I think our matric farewell should be in grade 12, for only those learners who choose to take subjects on higher level. As I feel like going to the matric farewell is an honor, an assurance to us that we almost made it to the finish line.

Colan Coleman

Our matric farewell should be in grade 11, because some of the learners or let me say most of the learners are not going to grade 12, because of the difficulty of higher level and their poor performance when it comes to certain subjects so it’s rather better to make the farewell next year.

Shameila Jeneke

Completing your education at grade 11 is nonsense. I want to have my grade 12 year, finish school at grade 12 and have our matric farewell in 2021. Next year most of our parents will have an added expense if they do decide to host it next year, but it will also be nice if it could be next year, but not at the same time as the grade 12’s - it should be separate.

Samentha April

I choose that we should have our matric next year but not on the same day as the grade 12’s, because who said everyone will make it to grade 12? Everyone is looking forward to matric every year. So if our matric is not in grade 12 then not everyone we came to high school with will make it to grade 12. We should have our matric in grade 11.

Rita Jod

I think we should have our matric farewell next year in grade 11, because I feel it’s unfair towards the other learners that do not want to have any subjects on higher level. Most learners are already struggling with the work we currently have. Thus we can all have our matric next year and those that choose higher level subjects continue the next year.

Nathania Green

I feel we should have our matric farewell in grade 11, because it will be unfair to the learners who will not have higher level subjects. Our farewell should be held separately.

Sarah Kambala

I think we should have our farewell in grade 11, because not all of us will be going to grade 12. It will be very unfair to some of us who are not up for higher level to be forced into it so if we have our farewell next year we all finish our journey, part ways and the children that want higher level continue next year in 2021, so it’s a win - win situation.

Algenique Lewis

I personally feel that our matric farewell should be held in grade 11.Most of the learners won’t be going to grade 12 and it would be unfair towards them. If the school can think about it, it will be better to hold the farewell of our grade 11 with the grade 12 of this year, because it will be one expense for the school instead of holding two different farewells for both the grades next year and it will also save the schools lots of planning.

Ivan Khamen

I think our farewell should be in grade 11. We know that the grade 12’s of next year would want their farewell to concern them. They don’t want to share it. Therefore I would say the matric farewell of the grade 12’s of next year should be held either in the year 2020 and the farewell of the next year’s grade 11’s should be held at a later stage.

Fa-Reëda Asino

I think we should have our matric farewell in grade 11, because not all of us will be taking higher level. The school should then host two separate farewells for those leaving in grade 11 and those continuing to grade 12.