By:Uakutura Kambaekua
Kunene’s NSSCO grade 11 performance and NSSCAS level for 2022 dropped 1.2% from the 2021 37.4% pass rate.
This poor performance has prompted the Ministry of Basic Education, together with the Kunene Regional Education Directorate, to map out strategies and best practices to improve the situation.
Last week, the ministry and the regional leadership convened a stakeholder’s engagement indaba under the theme “Revival of Hard Work Towards 2023 Improving Academic Performance”, to reflect and deliberate on the region’s challenges and achievements, while trying to find ways to up the region’s academic performance.
Kunene ranked last in all symbols nationally during last year’s NSSCO and NSSCAS examinations.
Last week’s engagement is part of the region’s traditional annual gathering which was started in 2017, where the regional leadership adopted “Hard Work” as their slogan towards the improvement of academic performance and service delivery.
During the engagement, deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Faustina Caley called for urgent revival of the region’s academic performance, stating there is work to be done.
“We need to improve our national ranking. We must spare no effort in achieving improved results,” she added.
Caley also said that such engagements should not just be used as another “talk shop” platform but rather a working engagement which will culminate amongst others, the creation of networking platforms for schools among themselves and with other stakeholders in education.
She added that the platform should be used as a pathway of sharing experiences and best practices to improve regional performance and greater parental involvement.
Caley said research has shown that parents are at the core of any properly functioning education facility.
The government responsibility is to provide, amongst others, an inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all by 2030 as contained in the United Nations post 2015 Agenda, an achievement that Caley said will only be achieved through collective efforts and approaches from all stakeholders.
“To achieve that goal should not rest squarely in the hands of government, but we must be partners as we march towards that tall, yet achievable goal,”she pointed out.
The deputy minister further maintained that education is a societal issue, hence the involvement of the society in the education of their children cannot be overemphasised.
“It is an open secret that the education ministry alone cannot achieve all its ambitious targets without the spirit of volunteerism demonstrated by parents and communities in supporting education programmes. We depend on parents to support teachers in their role to educate and mould our young minds into responsible adults,” she said.
Kunene’ education director, Angelina Jantze said the region needs to revive its slogan through dedication to double their efforts to turn around the performance of the region.
“We need to ask ourselves how can I contribute to the success of improved services delivery. What did we do in the past that we have to change now that will bring positive changes,” Jantze said rhetorically.
Jantze said the region is not satisfied with last year’ performance, noting that the region is not yet at the regional performance mark of 50% and above.
“Regarding NSSAS, we scored 23.3% in A-C symbol compared to 47% in 2021,” Jantze added.
He said the region is faced with numerous challenges hence the poor performance due to, among others, lack of parental involvement, shortages of teachers and drugs alcohol abuse by learners.
However, the director was also content with some of the region’s achievements despite limited resources at their disposal.
She said the region has registered 30 community hostels through government subsidy to ensure that learners get three meals per day, while more are also budgeted for in the near future.
“All four AS level schools got SMART boards and CGHS is very fortunate that they got another one through the project of EDUVISION sponsored by B2Gold,” she added.
The region last year had more than 800 entries and more than 390 candidates qualified for tertiary education which translates to more than 48 %.
Kunene consists of three circuits, Outjo, Epupa and Opuwo, with 73 state schools and four private schools. The region currently has a total of 33,902 learners including 1,172 teachers.