N$4
namib times
SERVING THE COASTAL COMMUNITY SINCE 1958 NO 6711 TUESDAY 12 DECEMBER 2017 Tel: +264 64 - 205854 / +264 64 - 461866 /Fax: +264 64 - 204813 / 064 - 461824 / Website: www.namibtimes.net
1820 children don’t have place for Grade 1 in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund for 2018 Sharlien Tjambari
The placement of Grade 1 learners in schools in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay has become a challenge for the Ministry of Education Arts and Culture. Next year, a total of 1820 learners will not have place in primary schools to start their school careers in either Swakopmund or Walvis Bay.
LGBTIQ march in Swakopmund
This very cumbersome figure was revealed by the Inspector of Education for Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, Mrs Monica !Gawises, during a recent stakeholder's meeting that placed enrollment and classroom shortages in the coastal areas under the spotlight. According to statistics presented by !Gawises, the total number of learners enrolled for Grade 1in Swakopmund for next year are 1018. A further 620 children still need space to start Grade 1. In Walvis Bay, the learners accepted for Grade 1 are 1981. A further 1200 children may not get placed. This is a huge concern for the ministry and that is why the Ministry of Education is calling upon municipalities of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund and Henties Bay to provide land to the ministry free of charge, so that the Ministry of Education can construct more schools, said !Gawises. She also urged the private sector to step in to assist the Ministry of Education in any way possible to construct new schools/classrooms. Continues on Page 2
66-year-old rescued after spending 80 hours in the desert Erwin Leuschner
An elderly lady residing in Mondesa in Swakopmund, who went missing for more than three days in the desert, was saved by mere chance on Friday afternoon. A Swakopmund resident, who went for a run in the desert, found the severely dehydrated, 66-year-old Elisabeth Katamila. According to Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu, police regional crime investigations coordinator for Erongo, Katamila was reported missing on Tuesday (5 December) at around 9:00 in the morning. "The gate of the yard was left open at the house where she is staying. According to the family it is not the first time the lady walked away from home", Iikuyu said. Usually Katamila returns home later on her own, "but this time she didn't." The search for her was ongoing for three days, when she was found by mere
inside Holiday Supplement inside Home Affairs an embarassment
Page 3
Not pleasing to our image Page 4
Erwin Leuschner About 50 people participated in this year's "Swakopmund Pride" parade on Saturday. It was the second parade organized by Our-Right Namibia (ORN) in the country, the theme being: "#WeAreOne." The ORN Campaign aims to celebrate the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTIQ+) persons living in Namibia.
Nande: Open Champion 2017
The march started at the Shoprite complex. The colorfully dressed participants marched down the main road towards the Amphitheatre, where speeches as well as live entertainment from LGBTIQ+ artists was on show. The members came together to march for unity, inclusivity and acceptance. Many people against the stigmatising of LGBTIQ-Namibians also marched in support. ORN already on Friday hosted a panel discussion with the main topic being "I AM More Than My Body", followed by the screening of a short film "So Over The Rainbow: Young Black and Trans in Namibia.�
Continues on Page 2 Page 8