Paulina Ndalikokule 

NKURENKURU – Kavango West Region has once again emerged as the top-performing region in the country in the 2025 Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level results, a success regional education director Pontianus Musore attributed to consistency, teacher commitment and a strong focus on teaching and learning despite persistent challenges. 

Speaking during an interview with MICT recently, Musore said the region’s achievement was the product of collective effort from teachers, learners, school management teams and communities who implemented and adhered to internal education policies. 

“We are very happy with these results. Maintaining position number one at AS level shows that what we are doing as a region is working, even though we are operating under very difficult conditions,” Musore said. 

According to Musore, the region has shown consistent performance over the past years, with several schools steadily improving their AS-level pass rates. 

He highlighted that schools offering AS-level subjects in the region have largely maintained strong results, with some recording notable improvements between 2024 and 2025. 

“When you look at AS level, you can see consistency in most of our schools. Some schools have improved from the previous year, which shows that the systems we have put in place are yielding results,” he noted. 

Musore said the region’s success is rooted in a clear mindset that prioritises teaching and learning above all else, even in the face of infrastructural shortages, long travel distances for learners and teachers, and limited resources. 

“Kavango West is largely a rural region. Our learners face many challenges, including lack of infrastructure, long distances and limited facilities. But we have motivated ourselves as teachers and education officials to say results can come from any process. Irrespective of where you find yourself as a learner, the geographical location of your school does not matter. In whatever school you find yourself, you can still make it,” the director said. He explained that the directorate has encouraged schools to maximise teaching time, closely monitor learner progress and analyse performance data to identify weaknesses early. 

“The focus has always been on teaching and learning. We encourage our schools to take responsibility, analyse their results and put interventions in place where there are gaps,” Musore said. 

While celebrating the top AS Level position, Musore acknowledged that not all areas performed as expected, noting that some schools declined compared to previous years. However, he said this does not overshadow the overall achievement. 

“There is always room for improvement. Even our best-performing schools need to go back to the drawing board, look at what went wrong and strengthen what is working,” he added. 

Musore also praised teachers for working under harsh conditions, particularly in remote areas. 

“Our teachers work in very difficult environments, but they remain committed. Their sacrifice and dedication are a major reason why Kavango West continues to perform well,” he said. 

He further called on parents and communities to continue supporting schools and learners. 

“Parents are our first educators. Their support, whether through discipline at home, encouragement or contributions to schools, plays a big role in learner success,” the director said. 

Looking ahead to the new academic year, Musore said the region aims not only to maintain its top AS Level position, but also to further improve overall performance across all grades. 

“We expect to do even better. With continued teamwork and focus, Kavango West can achieve even greater results,” he said. 

*Paulina Ndalikokule is an Information Officer at MICT Kavango West.