Unam reduces education student intakes

Decision amid oversupply of teachers
The education ministry welcomed the decision and highlighted the need for more specialised fields of study for teachers, such as economics and languages.
Hinauarue Rijatua In response to mounting challenges within Namibia’s education sector, the University of Namibia (Unam) has announced its decision to reduce its intake of students in education-related studies. Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho explained: “
  • 5 Months Ago
In response to mounting challenges within Namibia’s education sector, the University of Namibia (Unam) has announced its decision to reduce its intake of students in education-related studies.

Unam spokesperson Simon Namesho explained: “The oversupply of education graduates in the job market is a significant concern. The number of education graduates unable to find teaching posts in recent years has increased. Also, the rate at which education graduates are being absorbed into employment nationally has not kept up with the influx of new graduates.”

Among its strategies, Unam will raise admission requirements. For example, the secondary education programme now requires 30 points with higher subject grades at the AS Level, ensuring that only highly qualified students are admitted.

This decision aims to address concerns over the oversupply of graduates and the mismatches between skills and job market demands, which have hindered employment opportunities for recent graduates.

Specialise

The executive director at the education ministry, Sanet Steenkamp, said the ministry supports the decision and advocated for teachers to specialise in fields that are in demand in today's educational landscape.

She said the ministry "welcomes the decision by the University of Namibia," while adding that the ministry also calls for more specialised fields of study to be created for teachers.

She said, for example, that there is a lack of teachers in languages and economics, as well as secondary school teachers in all subject fields.

"We need more teachers who are fully confident and qualified, meeting all the requirements in all these subjects.”

Uaraisa Tjiyorokisa, a recent education graduate in an economy with scarce opportunities, shared his experience.

“From my experiences, there are a lot of temporary posts that are available for certain subjects that are in demand, but when you reach there, you’ll come to realise that 100 graduates qualify for that one post and are all being interviewed."

Collaboration

Students' Union of Namibia (SUN) president Benhard Kavau said: “If any institution decides to cut down on the number in training such, that should be their own decision, but as a union that advocates for an educated society, we see multiple roles for those in the teaching profession.”

He added: “The problem might be the number of positions government is able and willing to [give]. We will always advocate for the government to employ and fill the current inadequate number of teachers in schools. When that happens, you don’t want to face the problem of not having enough trained teachers.”

He added that the union supports informed student choices in education and urges a collaborative approach among stakeholders to tackle unemployment through national economic planning.