WINDHOEK – The Namibia National Teachers’ Union says the just released 2013 examination results for Grade 12 indicate a need to “redouble our [teaching] efforts,” as some of the schools that did well in 2012 slipped down the performance ranking.
“In education there is no time to relax. If you want to give momentum, then you need to work harder and harder,” said the Namibia National Teachers’ Union Secretary General, Basilias Haingura, after the release of the results for the 2013 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) ordinary level for full-time and part-time candidates.
Accoding to the education ministry, pupils performed better at grades D, E and F for the 2013 examination results for Grade 12 but the performance in grades B and G did not change while the performance for grades A* and C went down by 0.1 percent, and A by 0.2 percent. The percentage increase for grade D was 0.6 percent, while for grade F was 0.3 percent
and for E at 0.2 percent. “The performance of the 2013 candidates can be said to be similar to that of the 2012 candidates,” said Dr David Namwandi, the Minister of Education.
A total of 42 861 learners sat for the 2013 Grade 12 national examinations of whom 19 501 were full-time and 23 360 part-time learners.
The number of learners who passed with 25 points to qualify for admission to tertiary institutions this year is estimated at 10 800, including 7 300 full-time candidates.
“I am very happy and excited. It is a dream come true for me,” said Elys Muyomba, the only girl among the top 10 best performing learners, at number three.
The top ten overall best performing candidates are James Kamongo, Given Jao, Elys Muyomba, Hilarius Batista, Moses Thikukutu, Rowan Zimuto, Ismael Muterembe, Amos Siteketa, Wenzel Sheende all from St Boniface College in Kavango East Region, Immanuel Mwaetako from Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School and Efraim Naanda from Otjiwarongo Secondary School. St Boniface has been the top best performing school in the NSSC for the past six consecutive years.
New Era caught up with some of the overall best performing learners on how they managed to scoop thousands of Namibian learners.
“I am so excited. This is one of the best achievements ever in my life,” said James Kamonga who scooped the best overall performance nationally. Kamonga said he worked hard because he was determined to be the best. “I studied extra hours to get ready early for the exams. Dedication is key to everything one wants to achieve. I am just too excited right now,” he smilingly said.
Given Joao, also 18 years of age, excitedly said: “I am so excited and very proud to be one of the best overall performing candidates nationally.
I studied hard, enduring long hours. There was no sleeping.”
“I put a lot of effort and dedication into my school work. If you want to achieve something, just put your mind to it. I studied extra hours. I put in effort to be in the top five in Grade 12 because in Grade 10 I was number seven in the top 10,” said Elys Muyomba.
St Boniface College is the best performing school, the same position it held in 2012, followed by St Paul’s College which also retains its second position.
Elcin Nkurenkuru rose from number 16 and takes third place, Canisianum Roman is fourth from number six in 2012, Negumbo Secondary School takes position five from number 10, while Gobabis Gymnasium Private is ranked sixth from a previous number 15.
Oshigambo Secondary School dropped from number five in 2012 to seventh place, Windhoek Gymnasium Private also dropped, to the eighth position from its previous ranking of four, Juuso Shikongo Secondary School dropped from number seven to ninth place, while Delta also moved down by two ranks to tenth place.
By Albertina Nakale