Nathanael Heita
PARENTS and teachers have expressed concern about an increased number of learners who dodge classes, preferring to collect wild fruits, traditionally known as eembe, not only for self consumption, but to sell.
Driving through the northern regions of Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana and Omusati, one notices young children standing along the road holding baskets and other containers, trying to attract the attention of road-users.
“We parents are worried that some children have stopped going to school, preferring to sell eembe to make money, which they then spend on trivial items such as sweets, biscuits and so forth,” said one parent.
However, a learner at the Erkki Nghimtina Primary School in the Ohangwena Region, claims that no one wants to miss out on classes, but eembe offer an opportunity to earn much-needed money to buy school material, thereby meeting their struggling parents and guardians half way.
He admitted that the eembe business temporarily interrupts his schooling, but says that on the other hand, it takes a heavy burden away from his guardians’ shoulders.
A number of teachers have expressed fear that learner absenteeism might lead to poor performance and high failure rate.
