The Dolphin Schools and the IEB

JUSTISIA SHIPENA
Principal Ilse Palomba

The world of the 21st century is one of constant change and mushrooming uncertainty. In all aspects of life, economically, socially and culturally the essential needs of society change to meet the needs of the future. The Dolphin Schools and the IEB seek to prepare students to be able to adapt, live and flourish.

The IEB (Independent Examinations Board) is a private agency and offers support and input to private schools. It is based on the CAPS (the NSC syllabus) curriculum examinations and sets tests and examinations according to the CAPS guidelines, as well as memorandums and assessments, moderations and marking groups. UMALUSI (The General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Authority ) moderates both examination paths to ensure that the IEB comply with content and question standards.

Namibia has 7 IEB schools, of which The Dolphin Schools is one. Recently the South African government decided that their syllabus was not to be used outside the borders of SA anymore. The decision should be implemented from January 2022. Students currently from Grade 9 upwards, will then follow the new curriculum set up by the IEB itself and will be accredited by a SA university, in the same way as the Cambridge. In short it means that little will change, things might only become even better.

After a lot of research, The Dolphin Schools decided on the IEB in 2010 when we had our first group of grade 12s. One of the reasons for the decision was that the IEB certificate is internationally accepted. Our students study all over the world. Currently we have students studying engineering in Spain, hospitality and business in the Netherlands and we have a qualified architect in France. South African universities are very acceptable of IEB students. Locally some of our students attend UNAM.

The future will demand skills like complex problem-solving, Critical thinking, creativity, people management, co-ordinating with others, emotional intelligence, judgement and decision making, service orientation, negotiation and flexibility. The IEB and The Dolphin Schools strive to engage their students in these skills. We know that education is the key to unlocking the world and the passport to freedom. We also know that education is what remains when you have forgotten what you have learned at school. The combination of The Dolphin Schools and the IEB should give every child exactly that: wings to fly, a passport to freedom and being well educated.

With all of the above said, The Dolphin Schools wish their current grade 12s all the best for the upcoming examinations and for their futures.