OTJIWARONGO – Deputy mayor of Otjiwarongo councillor Archillaus Namaseb heaped praise on learners of Otjiwarongo for their outstanding performance in last year’s final examinations.
Namaseb said he was impressed with how well learners performed and thinks the learners are some of the brightest in the region. Namaseb doled out the kudos during a prize-giving ceremony to give recognition to the learners for their hard work and impressive performance.
He said it is his long held belief that education is an essential element in the country’s quest to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment. “Events such as this are very good because they serve as motivation for our children, to see the mayor, councillors and members of the community coming to show appreciation for their hard work means a lot to the learners,” he said. Paresis Secondary School principal Naas Jacobs said all the learners at the school aspire to become as good as their peers when they see hard work being rewarded. “Education is indeed an essential barometer in determining the level of progress in all our social and economic development efforts. It should therefore remain at the heart of all that we seek to accomplish. A ceremony such as this provides us a unique opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of those who tirelessly and selfishly dedicate their lives to ensuring a better future for the next generation,” said Namaseb.
The deputy mayor conceded that although the country has made notable progress in the education sector over the years many challenges requiring attention remain.
“One of these challenges is the continued shortage of a critical mass of professionals in various fields, as a result progress on some fronts of socio-economic development have been negatively affected,” added Namaseb. According to Namaseb many high school graduates were not in possession of a strong foundation in the most important subjects such as science, mathematics, as well as English. “This problem needs urgent attention, I am pleased to mention that our Otjozondjupa Region performed tops on the higher level of the NSSC countrywide,” he added. He urged the learners not only to share their knowledge with their peers but to use their abilities to make Namibia a better country. “From this moment forth, you are expected to join your fellow citizens in efforts to improve the living conditions of our people.”
By John Travolter Matali