Lahja Nashuuta
In Gobabis, in the Omaheke region, lives a man who has spent more than 25 years helping children reach for a better future through education.
Frans Franky van Wyk is not just a school principal at Epukiro Roman Catholic Primary School but also a teacher, mentor, regional leader and proud father.
His colleagues and learners call him a ‘jack of all trades’ because in education, there seems to be nothing he cannot do.
With more than 25 years of experience and a long list of achievements, Van Wyk remains a humble and dedicated servant of education.
Born and raised in Gobabis, his education journey began at Gunichas Roman Catholic School.
He later attended St. Joseph’s High School in Döbra before completing grades 8 to 12 at Mokganedi Tlhabanello High School in Omaheke.
From his early school days, he loved reading and learning.
“Reading, reading and more reading,” he saif with a smile.
He enjoys running, which helps him to stay energetic and focused.
Van Wyk joined the public service in 1998 as a teacher at Gobabis Primary School.
For him, teaching was more than just a job.
“I became a teacher to make a difference in the lives of children. I wanted to give them hope, quality education and a chance at a better life. It was my dream since I was young,” he said.
After several years in the classroom, Van Wyk took on new responsibilities.
He then became the manager of the Gobabis Teachers Resource Centre from 2004 to 2007.
In 2008, he was appointed as the Omaheke regional examination officer, a role he said to have challenged him in new ways, testing his leadership skills.
One of the biggest moments of his career was in 2011 when the late education minister Abraham Iyambo gave him a special task.
“At the time, Omaheke region had the lowest school results in the country. He called me and said ‘Frans, help the region improve,” Van Wyk recalled.
“We introduced holiday schools, ran weekend classes and provided support to learners and teachers across the region. The result? Omaheke rose from position 13 to position 7 in 2011, and to position 8 in 2012.
“It was not easy, but it showed what we can achieve when we work together,” Van Wyk said.
Being a civil servant
Since 2015, he has served as principal of the Epukiro Roman Catholic Primary School.
His leadership style is hands-on.
“I am not just an administrator. I am an instructional leader – that means I help guide the teaching, set a vision for the school, and make sure the learning environment is safe and positive for everyone,” he revealed.
What brings him the most joy is waking up at 5h00, thanking God for a new day, and arriving at school to find both staff and learners ready to learn.
“When everyone is present and working hard, it brings me peace,” Van Wyk said.
“Teamwork makes the dream work,” he maintained.
He is passionate about improving reading, writing and math in primary schools.
He believes these basic skills are the foundation for success in later years.
“Many learners in Namibia struggle with literacy and numeracy. If we fix this at the primary level, we will see much better results at secondary school and university,” Van Wyk said.
To help his learners, he runs Saturday classes at his school, where he teaches study skills and gives extra help in reading and math.
In addition, he supports the Omaheke Directorate of Education with major events like prize-giving ceremonies that honour the best learners and teachers in the region.
But his service does noit stop at the school gate.
“My clients are the learners and their parents,” Van Wyk said.
“When I see a child do well, it gives me peace of mind. Even when a grown learner greets me in the street and says ‘Hi teacher, do you remember me?’ that is a reward I never forget,” he said.
He is a strong believer in public service, but he knows it comes with challenges.
“Not all public servants are lazy or unproductive,” he stated.
“Some are not supported, motivated or recognised for their hard work. That is why leaders must inspire, mentor and lead by example. If we do small things right, everyone can become a leader even without a title,” he asserted.
Van Wyk is still full of energy, with no plans to slow down soon.
“I’m still young and healthy. I want to continue serving the Namibian child,” he said.
At home, Van Wyk is a proud father of twins, who are now in grade 5.
He is not only their dad but also their teacher.
“I do home-school with them. I want to see how they grow up and what they will become. I’m really curious,” he said with a laugh.
Looking forward, Van Wyk has a big dream for Namibia’s education system.
He wants to see a complete change in the way people think about teaching and learning.
“We need everyone – from regional directors, inspectors, principals, teachers, learners and parents to work together. Only then will our schools become the best places for learning. It is possible. We just need the right mindset and commitment,” he said.