Maysa Sangeve
A wave of anticipation is sweeping across Namibia as the results of the 2024 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) and Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) Level examinations are set to be released on 14 January 2025.
The waiting period is filled with mixed emotions for learners, parents and educators alike, as the results are poised to shape the future of thousands of young Namibians.
The executive director in the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, said this is a time when hope must be maintained and new pathways explored for candidates who may not succeed. In an interview with Nampa, she urged parents to create a safe and neutral space for learners.
“We need to give our children an opportunity to express their feelings – whether it’s hurt or disappointment, and provide immediate emotional support,” she added.
Steenkamp advised learners who are not successful to consider distance learning, private colleges or the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system as alternatives.
University of Namibia (Unam) English lecturer Professor Jairos Kangira shed light on the emotional rollercoaster learners experience during this time.
“There is anxiety and fear as one waits for examination results. Sometimes, there are feelings of self-blame and uncertainty,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of emotional resilience, noting that the wait is a critical time for self-reflection and planning.
Ester Kamunoko (17) from Noordgrens Secondary School, who wrote Grade 11/NSSCO examinations, shared her journey through this period of uncertainty.
“I feel both anxious and excited,” she said.
“It’s difficult to go through the day without thinking about the results. If I get the results I hope for, I plan to celebrate with my friends and start preparing for the next steps in my education,” she shared.
She expressed confidence in her hard work, but acknowledged that not everything was under her control.
To manage stress, she has been immersing herself in hobbies such as painting, reading and learning a new language online.
“My family has been really supportive, encouraging me to talk about my feelings,” she added.
For Elifas Elias (19), a Grade 12/NSSCAS student from Ponhofi Senior Secondary School, the waiting period has been equally challenging.
Despite his fears of the unknown, he remains hopeful.
“I hope to study engineering or law at Unam or the Namibia University of Science and Technology. In the meantime, I keep myself busy with cultivating, looking after cattle, and spending time with my family,” he said. Kangira and fellow Unam lecturer Sinvula Mudabeti urged learners to have contingency plans in place in case their results fall short of expectations.
“I know many students who have succeeded in life after going back to improve their results,” Mudabeti said.
He emphasised the value of resilience.
“It’s not the end of the world if you don’t achieve your desired results. There are many who passed but haven’t learned much, while others have grown through failure,” he said.
Steenkamp offered words of encouragement to learners, emphasising that examination results cannot define their potential.
“You are bigger than any exam results – and remember, as students, you are young. This might be a temporary setback, not a reflection of your identity,” she noted.
–Nampa