Lahja Nashuuta
A typical day for a school principal is much more than sitting in an office, taking phone calls, or doling out discipline for problem students.
Jackie Jackson ‡Khariseb is a dedicated civil servant and a principal at Rehoboth High School who is committed to providing quality inclusive education to the Namibian child.
‡Khariseb wears many hats and has a staggering list of responsibilities that includes management duties such as teacher evaluation, implementing programmes and curriculum, and dealing with student discipline.
As a principal, he regards himself as a visible, guiding force who is always accessible to those in need of his service. His day is full of interactions with students, teachers, and support staff, the superintendent, parents, and community members.
“Each person who comes to see me at school has a problem or concern that is important to him or her at that time. I sincerely try to assist as promptly and efficiently as possible, often placing myself in that person’s position. The variety of decisions I am required to make on a daily basis is mind-boggling,” he said.
Humble beginnings
‡Khariseb was born and bred in Rehoboth. “I was raised in a large family with my cousins and aunties by my grandmother, thus serving the masses was a given and teaching was a natural calling,” he said. ‡Khariseb completed his secondary education at Rehoboth High School in 2001. He then moved to Windhoek to pursue a career in education. In 2006, he gained his first qualification – the Basic Education Teachers’ Diploma – from the then Windhoek College of Education currently Unam Khomasdal Campus.
He further pursued a postgraduate Diploma in Education Leadership, Management and Policy Studies from the Management College of Southern Africa (MANCOSA) and a Master of Education Leadership, Management and Policy Studies from the University of Namibia.
‡Khariseb joined the public service in 2007 as a novice teacher at Empelheim Junior Secondary School, and in 2022, landed his dream job as a principal of a high school.
“I was assigned to Rehoboth High School in May 2022 as the school was in turmoil. I was approached to help and stabilise the school. Before that, I worked as principal of Piet Diergaardt PS since 2016.
“When I took over the leadership of Rehoboth High School, I worked on a turn-around strategy with my team, and our school was placed as the fourth best-performing State school nationally in 2022 AS-level results,” he said.
“My position in government is two-tier; as a teacher, I am fulfilling my heart’s desire in teaching and shaping the lives of the Namibian child and my small contribution in that sphere is very significant in my view.”
I am also a Swapo Party Local Authority councillor for Rehoboth Town Council, where we are tasked by the electorate to implement local policy decisions and deliver on strategic objectives in accordance with the policy direction of the elected council,” ‡Khariseb said.
There is no job without challenges and for ‡Khariseb, the deteriorating discipline in learners coupled with poor academic performance has become a challenge for every teacher in today’s society. He further said as a principal, it is also challenging to keep your team
motivated, amidst the ill-disciplined children.
‡Khariseb further said: “We are dealing with children from various ethnic backgrounds, learning abilities, and home lives and as principal, I have to set the bar high, making sure students understand the level of expectation, what will be tolerated, and that there will be consequences for ill-discipline actions. With a team approach that involves family, staff, and students, we make sure the educational process is productive and steady”.
‡Khariseb, however, said the school has adopted strategies to deal with ill-discipline issues.
He said one of the satisfactions is the school performance, which improved dramatically. “For the past years, the school has been performing very well and it is also fulfilling to see my subordinates elevating to leadership roles in the profession, becoming well-rounded teachers as well as seeing my learners getting quality symbols and
becoming successful in life.”
Queried on his take on the effectiveness of the civil servants, ‡Khariseb had this to say: “The irony of this issue is that the people denouncing public servants were once mentored by a person working for a public institution – in this case, a teacher. I link my work to my personal reflection thus I believe that I should put every inch of my being into my work and as teachers, we are shaping the future of our nation, and we are a called profession, so there is no room for being unproductive in my sphere of work,” he added.
‡Khariseb is not planning to leave public service. “My wish is to serve the government to retirement. However, I wish to continue growing professionally in my field of specialisation,” he concluded.