Pass marks for Grade 10 to increase under NDP4

According to information contained in a pamphlet summarising the desired outcomes of the development plan which ends in 2017, an increase in the percentage of Grade 10 learners achieving 30 points or more and at least an F for English from 17,9% to 25%, is expected.

NDP4 was launched by President Hifikepunye Pohamba earlier this month.

During the next five years, the country also expects that the number of learners receiving a pass marks of 25 points or above at Grade 12 level should increase from 29,5% to 45%.

Over the NDP4 period, significant improvements in three broad goals are expected, and as such, ambitious targets have been set.

These goals include high and sustained economic growth, jobcreation and reduced income inequality. The theme for NDP4 is ‘Changing Gear towards Achieving Vision 2030’.

There are a number of reasons why Namibia was not able to achieve the high and sustainable economic growth required for employment-creation, poverty reduction and greater income equality from the NDP1 to NDP3 period.

Some of the key reasons identified for this slow progress are the lack of proper execution, a lack of accountability, as well as the fact that the efforts and resources were spread too thinly.

In the first five years after Independence in 1990, the government adopted a transitional development plan and in 1995, the first formal NDP had been implemented, known as NDP1.

NDP1 focused on only four goals, namely boosting and sustaining economic growth, creating employment, reducing inequality in income distribution and reducing poverty.

Twelve years later, in 2007/8, NDP3 came into effect.

By then, the number of goals to be reached had increased to 21.

NDP4 adds another dimension, namely focusing on the execution of development strategies, as well as monitoring and evaluating development