Albertina Nakale
Windhoek-Kavango’s St Boniface College once again produced the top performing learners for the 2017 Grade 12 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) ordinary level exams.
However, the Minister of Education, Arts and Culture Katrina Hanse-Himarwa says the reality on the ground dictates that one should look differently at government and private schools, which is a reality “we cannot move away from”.
“The playing field with regards to many aspects is simply not level. Thus, comparing the performance of learners at government schools against private schools to a certain degree is not fair.
“Therefore, it is only fair to split the analysis of the category between government and private schools,” she said in reaction to questions yesterday when she announced the results of the Grade 12 full-time and part-time candidates who sat for the NSSC ordinary level examination in 2017.
In total 35 private schools registered for the NSSC ordinary level examinations.
The top five schools on the basis of the 2017 examination for full-time candidates are St Boniface College which scooped the first place as it did last year, followed by St Paul’s College whose rank also remained unchanged, while Elcin Nkurenkuru High School moved to third place compared to seventh position in 2016.
Meanwhile, Swakopmund Private School took the fourth place followed by Oshigambo High School at number five.
Equally, a total number of 153 government schools registered for the NSSC ordinary level examinations.
The ministry also considered the top five schools on the basis of the 2017 examination for full-time candidates.
These include Rukonga Vision School, which took first place followed by Reverend Juuso Shikongo Secondary School, which came in second as it did last year, Negumbo Senior Secondary School took third position losing the first place it held last year.
Delta secondary school took fourth place while Gabriel Taapopi Secondary School took the fifth spot.
The minister gave special recognition to the best performing learners as a motivational tool.
One the top two candidates, with the best overall performance nationally in six NSSC ordinary level subjects, was Muupa Kabajani from St Boniface College who obtained 87.6 percent. The other candidate is Iyambo Paulus from St Boniface College who scored 86.9 percent.
The top ten candidates with the best overall performance nationally in six NSSC Ordinary Level subjects at government schools are Trendy Masule from Max Makushe Secondary School (81.6%), Marichen Heibes from Paresis Secondary School (81.2%), Mwaimbehafo Paulus from Paresis Secondary School (81.0%) and Karolina Kumbwa from Max Makushe Secondary School who obtained 80.7 percent.
The other learners are Nande Paulus from Epako High School (80.2%), Fillemon Dishena from Haimbili Haufiku Secondary School (79.9%) and Risto Nashihanga from Etosha Secondary School (79.5%).
Additionally, Fanuel Timoteus from Eenhana Secondary School (79.5%), Chris-Une Nel from Otjiwarongo Secondary School (78.8%) and Rakel Tobias from the Rukonga Vision School who achieved 78.7 percent.
The top ten candidates with the best overall performance nationally in six NSSC ordinary level subjects at private schools include Kabajani Paulus and Marion Mupiri from St Boniface College (87.6%).
In addition, Sarah Meesher (87.3%), Augusta Boikanyo (87.3%), Bertha Amupolo (86.9%), Frieda (86.5%) all from St Boniface College and Cecilia Kasanga also from St Boniface College, who scored 85.9 percent.
The others are Joseph Abner (85.6%) and Richard Decelestino both from St Boniface College who obtained 85.6 percent.