A Mathematics and Science Clinic for Grade 11 and Advanced Subsidiary Learners at Tsumeb has been revived following its closure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was set up in 2016 by the University of Namibia to improve the performance of learners.

Founded by the University of Namibia's School of Engineering and the Built Environment, the Math and Science Clinic is a community outreach initiative driven by the Advance Subsidiary syllabus.

UNAM lecturers will travel every weekend to Tsumeb to assist 150 math and science grade 11 and AS learners in achieving the required pass rate for admission to UNAM's Jose Eduardo Do Santos campus in Ongwediva.

Physics and chemistry are also included in the Math and Science Clinic.

UNAM's Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering Professor, Professor Oluwagbenga Johnson, says the Math and Science Clinic was initiated to complement teacher efforts.

"Such that we can all together produce good results, just like last year's statistics were read to us already, that becomes a challenge for us, and since we are here, we are going to work together to improve that, so in light of that, the teachers that came to us saw that it was not a competition; it was actually complimentary work."

Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb Community Trust provided N$500,000 for the relaunch of the programme, which was initially discontinued during the COVID outbreak. Dundee Community Trust Chairperson Max Johnson highlights the aim of the clinic. 

"The aim of the Tsumeb Math and Science Clinic is to improve the academic results of Grade 11 and 12 learners among the Tsumeb schools, and Dundee Precious Metal Tsumeb Community Trust is determined to support the initiative through UNAM's Jose Do Santos campus and the Oshikoto Directorate Education Tsumeb Teacher's Resource Centre."

Dundee Community Trust also donated Grade 12 teaching materials valued at N$32,000 to the clinic. 

Education Director for Oshikoto Region, Aletta Eises, says the aim is to achieve a 70 percent pass rate at each grade.

"70 percent in Grade 11, 70 percent in AS, 70 percent from Grade 4 up to Grade 10, that's the expectation, so we are doing anything in our power, we have our intervention plans. Some circuits started with their awords, some schools started with their motivational talks, so therefore we have intervention plans. What plans do you have for your own success?"

To date, the programme has assisted more than 600 learners in Oshana, and more than 800 will benefit this year from Oshana and the Oshikoto regions.