Namcol adapts to thinner purse
Namcol says its students will remain its main priority as it thinks out of the box to keep afloat with far less money.
With a possible 47% budget cut on the cards, the Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) says it already implemented several steps to mitigate the thinner purse without negatively impacting the more than 47 000 students enrolled for the 2017 academic year.
At the launch of the institution's groundbreaking online student portal 'myNAMCOL', Namcol director Heroldt Murangi yesterday said government funds to the college will more than likely be reduced by roughly 47%, down from last year's N$151 million contribution to between N$80 and N$70 million. He said Namcol “hopes to” receive in the region of N$84 million.
In line with Namibia facing an economic recession and as a funded agency of government, Murangi said the college has “put some measures in place to cope under these difficult circumstances.”
Murangi said Namcol has “adopted a culture of operating within our means”.
Nevertheless, Namcol board chairperson Justin Ellis explained that Namcol has nevertheless been forced to dip into reserves the institution has built up and which were earmarked for a number of projects, including the development of centres across the country.
Ellis emphasised that drawing from the reserves and slowing down a number of projects has been “quite painful”.
One of the measures adopted to reduce expenses is the suspension of revision sessions for secondary education in the last term, Murangi said.
“Normally learners receive tuition for three weeks in the last weeks of the year, for revision purposes. We have observed over the years that average attendance drops to as low as 30% at the various tutorial centres, because of the external examinations starting mid-September”.
Instead of offering revision classes, Namcol will use those three weeks for the Grade 12 learner oral assessments in English and African languages.
Murangi urged students, in light of these amendments, to attend the mid-year mock examinations to ensure that they are prepared.
A second measure, to be implemented as of next year, is the reduction of the number of weekly contact sessions for Grade 10 students, from five to three hours a week.
Murangi said these steps will lead to approximately N$3.9 million savings for this year.
He emphasised that the austerity measures mean Namcol has to “think out of the box” but underlined that the “limitations necessitated by our current economic landscape will not impede our delivery. Our learners will remain our first priority.”
He added that the college is also increasingly focusing on revenue possibilities, one of which will be the sale of Namcol study guides to Namibian schools. Ellis said while Namcol has run the numbers on a “very cautious and conservative basis”, the coping strategy will hopefully only be needed for the short term, and there are concerns for the long-term under the current budget cuts.
“The difficulty is going forward, if the budget continues to be at this reduced level. At the moment we are able to cope, but we are concerned about the situation going forward.”
He said the current strategy would be difficult to sustain over a long term period. Ellis said Namcol caters to a key social group in Namibia - the youth - who are one of the most impacted groups who grapple with job security, poverty, education and more. He said as such, he is sure government is aware of the needs going forward.
“It should be a high, political priority” he said, to consider the long-term financial framework for the college.
Meanwhile, Namcol yesterday announced the advancement of its learning programmes, noting that since 1997, the number of tertiary programmes offered has increased from one, to nine.
Thirty people enrolled to obtain a certificate in Education for Development in 1998, and this year more than 3000 students enrolled.
Murangi yesterday announced the launch of a Certificate in Business and Entrepreneurship and the Bachelor's Degree in Youth Development. He said the college will offer a diploma in business and entrepreneurship in 2019, which will be followed by a Bachelor Degree in Business and Entrepreneurship.
JANA-MARI SMITH
At the launch of the institution's groundbreaking online student portal 'myNAMCOL', Namcol director Heroldt Murangi yesterday said government funds to the college will more than likely be reduced by roughly 47%, down from last year's N$151 million contribution to between N$80 and N$70 million. He said Namcol “hopes to” receive in the region of N$84 million.
In line with Namibia facing an economic recession and as a funded agency of government, Murangi said the college has “put some measures in place to cope under these difficult circumstances.”
Murangi said Namcol has “adopted a culture of operating within our means”.
Nevertheless, Namcol board chairperson Justin Ellis explained that Namcol has nevertheless been forced to dip into reserves the institution has built up and which were earmarked for a number of projects, including the development of centres across the country.
Ellis emphasised that drawing from the reserves and slowing down a number of projects has been “quite painful”.
One of the measures adopted to reduce expenses is the suspension of revision sessions for secondary education in the last term, Murangi said.
“Normally learners receive tuition for three weeks in the last weeks of the year, for revision purposes. We have observed over the years that average attendance drops to as low as 30% at the various tutorial centres, because of the external examinations starting mid-September”.
Instead of offering revision classes, Namcol will use those three weeks for the Grade 12 learner oral assessments in English and African languages.
Murangi urged students, in light of these amendments, to attend the mid-year mock examinations to ensure that they are prepared.
A second measure, to be implemented as of next year, is the reduction of the number of weekly contact sessions for Grade 10 students, from five to three hours a week.
Murangi said these steps will lead to approximately N$3.9 million savings for this year.
He emphasised that the austerity measures mean Namcol has to “think out of the box” but underlined that the “limitations necessitated by our current economic landscape will not impede our delivery. Our learners will remain our first priority.”
He added that the college is also increasingly focusing on revenue possibilities, one of which will be the sale of Namcol study guides to Namibian schools. Ellis said while Namcol has run the numbers on a “very cautious and conservative basis”, the coping strategy will hopefully only be needed for the short term, and there are concerns for the long-term under the current budget cuts.
“The difficulty is going forward, if the budget continues to be at this reduced level. At the moment we are able to cope, but we are concerned about the situation going forward.”
He said the current strategy would be difficult to sustain over a long term period. Ellis said Namcol caters to a key social group in Namibia - the youth - who are one of the most impacted groups who grapple with job security, poverty, education and more. He said as such, he is sure government is aware of the needs going forward.
“It should be a high, political priority” he said, to consider the long-term financial framework for the college.
Meanwhile, Namcol yesterday announced the advancement of its learning programmes, noting that since 1997, the number of tertiary programmes offered has increased from one, to nine.
Thirty people enrolled to obtain a certificate in Education for Development in 1998, and this year more than 3000 students enrolled.
Murangi yesterday announced the launch of a Certificate in Business and Entrepreneurship and the Bachelor's Degree in Youth Development. He said the college will offer a diploma in business and entrepreneurship in 2019, which will be followed by a Bachelor Degree in Business and Entrepreneurship.
JANA-MARI SMITH
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