New Era

WINDHOEK - The Ministry of Education has come out declaring that it has nothing to do with what was reported in the InformantÃ© newspaper that high-ranking Government officials were "grabbing" educational scholarships for their children and close relatives.

Following the InformantÃ© article, the DTA's McHenry Venaani, demanded that education minister Nangolo Mbumba resigns "forthwith".

"He has failed miserably to meet the expectations of the young people who depend on him and his ministry to look after their educational well-being. These bursaries were supposedly meant for the disadvantaged young people of Namibia to further their studies in China," said Venaani.

Venaani went on to accuse Swapo Party leaders of abusing their positions of influence for self-enrichment and personal benefit.

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Vitalis Ankama, last Friday said the 10 Chinese scholarships offered through the ministry were duly advertised - on February 5 - and that from those that applied, the ministry awarded the scholarships in a fair and transparent manner.

Students selected through this process are M.N. Shatiwa, Ndapandula N. Haulenga, K.G. Kampungu, S.N.

Nheedelwa, Inamutila M. Kahupi, Petrus Mbadhi, Letha Usko, Ndapandula Nuuyoma, and Lukas Nambinga.

Ankama said a selection team comprising representatives from various ministries with the education ministry as secretariat, awarded the scholarships with considerations that included the income levels of the applicants' parents.

These students left for China in August to commence under- and post-graduate studies in the fields of agriculture and forestry, economics and management, hydrology and water resources engineering, medicine, as well as marine and ocean engineering.

Ankama said the ministry is not aware that any or all of these students have parents in high-ranking Government positions.

He did, however, state that the ministry was aware that the Chinese government has advertised some scholarships through the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, "of which the selection process possibly was done by the Chinese Embassy itself without the involvement of the Ministry of Education".

Ankama said the Chinese Government - like other countries with embassies in Namibia - offer scholarships to Namibians on an annual basis.

According to a list of newly accepted students by Chinese universities - and those receiving Chinese scholarships - for the academic year 2009/2010, the names of high-ranking officials' children and relatives include Ndapanda Pohamba (daughter of President Hifikepunye Pohamba) studying at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing; Lenna ya Kasita (daughter of Deputy Minister of Lands and Resettlement, Henock ya Kasita) to study at the Zhongnan University of Economics and Law; Ernesto Ndeitunga (son of Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Sebastian Ndeitunga) studying at the Huazhong Normal University; Justus Namoloh (son of Deputy Minister of Defence, Charles Namoloh) studying at the Wuhan University; Phillipus Esau (son of Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Bernhard Esau) to study at the East China University of Science and Technology; and Patrick Lungameni Mushimba (relative of the former First Lady Kovambo Nujoma) .

Other names on this list include Ndakola Tuyakula Anna Nambahu to study at the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing; Kledura N. Imalwa studying at the China Geoscience University; Loide Kamati studying at the Huazhong Normal University; Selma Utoni studying at the University of Science and Technology; David Iipinge studying at the China Agriculture University; Maria Nantana studying at the Beijing Forestry University; Veikko Uahengo studying at the Wuhan University; and Fimanekeni Ndaitavela Mhanda studying at the South China Agricultural University.

The Ministry of Education did acknowledge that it has sponsored air travel for Maria Nantana, Dawid Iipinge and Justus Namoloh from the Namibian Student Financial Assistant Fund (NSFAF), "in accordance with the NSFAF policy" that states that "financial assistance can be offered to students whose combined parental or guardian annual earnings do not exceed N$150Â 000 basic salary".

Ankama said the policy further states that exceptions can be made in cases where parents or guardians are already paying for other children at any other recognised tertiary institution.

Hence the air ticket sponsorship to Charles Namoloh's son, he said.

DTA of Namibia's Venaani accused the education ministry of not making known to Namibian underprivileged 100 bursaries availed by the South African government to Namibia two years ago.

"People pick half information and blow it out of proportion," responded Ankama to this allegation.

Ankama said while Pohamba and former South African President Thabo Mbeki reached an understanding on places to be availed to Namibians at institutions of higher learning, this understanding still had to be "translated into an offer and an agreement".

He said a ministerial team is due to visit South Africa that will lead to an agreement signed on October 26.

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