Students to write NBTs locally

Mariselle Stofberg

Windhoek Gymnasium is now an acceptable venue as part of the national cycle for the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs). Gymnasium applied to be a remote centre that allows students within Namibia to complete their NBTs.

“This means we do not have an issue with facilitating any test at any time at the venue,” says Estelle Murray, the logistics manager at the Centre for Educational Testing for Access and Placement (CETAP).

Other centres have been available in Namibia, but due to a lack of interest these centres do not operate as venues within Namibia anymore.

Gymnasium is going to facilitate a remote centre on Sunday, 26 May at the school hall. The due date for registration is 14 May.

The test times are 07:30-11:30 for Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) and 12:00-15:00 for Mathematics (MAT).

The NBTs focus on academic readiness for university study. Each test requires you to apply prior learning and what you are able to do with materials that reflect expectations for first-year students in university programmes. Many universities in South Africa require Namibian students who wish to apply to complete the NBTs to determine their academic readiness.

The NBT Project is an initiative run by Universities South Africa, formerly known as Higher Education South Africa (HESA).

Some South African universities use the NBTs in addition to the National Senior Certificate (NSC) for access to higher education institutions or to determine if learners need any learning support to complete or pursue their studies.

Maretha du Plessis, the head of department counselling at Windhoek Gymnasium, confirmed they are now able to accommodate other learners from Namibia as well.

“We need at least 30 learners to ensure that the costs of the invigilators and courier costs of the tests are taken care of by the NBT. We are still responsible for the administrative costs of running the venue for the tests.”

Du Plessis said this will aid parents to have their children complete tests in Namibia, as they do not need to travel to South Africa to complete the tests. “The costs of having to send your children to other countries for the tests are a huge burden on parents and not everyone is able to afford this.”

How to register:

1. Call Lida Beukes at 061 381 459 or Maretha du Plessis at 061 223295 to register.

2. You will have to give the following information:

· Full name, as on your Namibian/South African ID document or Namibian/South African passport

· ID number or passport number.

· Are you going to write AQL only or both AQL and MAT?

· Are you going to write in English or Afrikaans?

3. Registration fees payable:

· AQL only - N$200.

· AQL and MAT - N$400.

4. Contact Beukes or Du Plessis for the necessary information for payment and the sending of proof of payment.

On Sunday, 26 May you must bring along:

· Your original ID document or passport, as well as a certified copy.

· Your proof of payment.

· A sharp HB pencil and an eraser (no calculator).

· Something to eat or drink between the AQL and MAT tests.

For any further questions, contact Maretha du Plessis at 081 246 7727.