Sackaria Immanuel, a resident of Windhoek’s One Nation Informal Settlement who has been struggling for the past 20 months to correct the year of completion on his Grade 12 certificate, remains in limbo.
While he did well in his academics, he fears he may not be able to find a job and assist with his family’s dire situation at home.
Upon completing matric in 2020, Immanuel was driven to get a side job while studying journalism, which he says is his dream career.
He has, however, been unable to secure a job given the mistake on his certificate and must obtain a police oath whenever presenting his credentials.
He has been fortunate to be accepted at the private Triumphant College, where he now studies journalism.
“I really thought I could get very far with my studies, but sometimes I think of giving up. Because I am walking from One Nation to town, I am only able to attend classes two days a week because the distance is very long. Every time I try to apply for a job, I have to get a police declaration declaring that the documents are mine, which is a very long process. Sometimes I end up getting the declaration after the deadline for the advertised position,’ he says.
While Immanuel is determined to become the breadwinner in the family, his situation has left him despondent.
Erme Kanuni says her nephew is set to go far in life, though he is being held back by what appears to be a simple mistake on his high school certificate.
“He really needs assistance so that he can correct his paper. Sackaria is a smart child; his mother, who is my sister, does not work, and his father does not take care of him. We have hope in Sackaria, and we need his education to go on. Other people would give up and go on the streets, but our boy is fighting for his life.”
Unfortunately for Immanuel, the Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture’s policy stipulates that any certificate older than 18 months cannot be corrected.
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