New Era’s northern-based journalist Festus Hamalwa (FH) recently sat down with the Oshikoto region education director Aletta Eises (AE) as she heads into retirement. During the interview, an array of topics was discussed. It was no holds barred. Eises bows out with her head held high. 

FH: When did you join the Oshikoto region as a director. What was the situation like at the beginning?

AE: I joined Oshikoto in April 2019. Prior to moving to the Oshikoto region, I worked in a multicultural environment in terms of languages, culture and background.

Oshikoto directorate staff members are predominantly from one ethnic group due to the geographical setting. 

It was my first time working in such an environment.

Thus, at first, I was wondering about my adaptation and connecting at strategic levels to deliver the service excellence. 

My education journey in Oshikoto is quite interesting. It was challenging, rewarding and exciting. I am a Namibian – born and bred in this beautiful country. I love the diversity and its people. My journey is interesting, as I worked with people whose language I could not speak and whose culture was different from mine, but whose hearts I understood. Embrace the unity in diversity.

The language, culture and traditions could not stand in our way, as we connected in vision, mission, values and the goals of the directorate. It seamlessly led to success in many areas.

I was eager to learn the directorate’s organisational culture, presence and behaviour. I am the type who observes, analyses and rationalises. I learn before bringing in my ideas and innovations through consultation and communication. Though my leadership style is mostly servant leadership and my leadership approach is from an ethical value standpoint, I apply situational leadership style.

I have only one principle – the principle of integrity. No one can take that away from me. Secondly, I am very decisive.

The environment was collaborative. I enjoyed working with different sections and people. Learning from different attitudes, behaviour codes and personalities. Yes, there was resistance to change, but we pulled through. Here we are, six years and two months later.

I am very clear on my role in the public service and fulfilled it at each level of my appointment.

Titles are not important to me. My name is very important to me because that is what I defend – not a title.

There was resistance to change from some staff members. However, we were connected by the mandate of the ministry and answered in the vision and goals of the directorate. Eventually, this connection led to another at other relevant levels for the good of the people and region.

FH: Please elaborate on the successful projects you have completed.

AE: I should say that I am a visionary leader. I am very vision-centred. Vision provides me a compass – a direction of where we are. Apart from that, I am innovative, creative and solution-orientated. I would never say I have successfully completed a project in the region. Oshikoto works as a team. In my tenure, we accomplished various projects in the interest of the learners, the communities and the nation at large. 

The region supports academically strong but vulnerable children with toiletries and other needs to successfully attend and complete school. 

In addition, we ensure that these learners are placed in a hostel for them to have proper shelter and an environment where learning and performance can thrive.

We developed an organisational culture where everyone feels part of through our wellness projects. In addition, there is a Mathematics science clinic for grade 11 learners to ensure greater understanding of the sciences for better outcomes for the learners. 

This project was successful through the support of Sinomine and the University of Namibia, Jose Do Santos campus.

Learner pregnancy reduced from 675 in 2019 to 240 in 2024. We do not want any girl to be pregnant while in school. Though slow progress was made, the directorate still believes it will get to zero. 

The following new schools were established from 2019 to 2024: Katrinawa JPS, Nakandangwa, Tsumeb Private School, Marvelte School 2023, Oniipah Private School, Higherds Private School, Northcotemy, Newnings Private School, Lemste School, Moses Private School, WomalengaCare and Focuste School.  

FH: What are some of the major challenges you experienced?

AE: Challenges are really huge in the education sector. The challenges experienced in the Oshikoto region might be similar to other 13 regions.

Portable water is being provided to schools (via water tanker trucks), as some of them do not have water. In some areas, water is salient. This is a continuous process, as some of the schools, especially in the rural areas, do not have access to clean water. This process ensures that water is timeously ferried to the schools and communities in need. The directorate is in the process of acquiring a water tanker truck at the cost of N$4 million. The expected delivery date was 20 May 2025. 

Fostering a reading culture: there is a lack of reading culture amongst the learners. We are working with Norway Kamerado to ensure the reading culture is developed.

In terms of infrastructure, renovations and constructions took place, but more funds are needed to build hostels, as the region’s learner population is ever growing. When I arrived in Oshikoto, the region had 219 schools. Today, there are there are 231 schools. The learner population was at 79 418. Today, it stands at 84 054. 

Accommodation at schools with a growing population of learners is a challenge. There is a need to provide them with accommodation at the schools to avoid them walking long distances to attend schools. To respond to this need, two hostels will be constructed are on capital projects NPC-code, Okumbula hostel and Ehangano hostel to ensure adequate accommodation for learners.

FH: What was the region’s performance like when you started?

AE: The ministry implemented the new curriculum which we are currently using in 2015-2022. In 2016, the junior primary phase was implemented. In 2017, the senior primary phase was implemented. In 2019, the grade 11 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary phase was implemented. 

In 2021, the grade 12 Namibia Senior Secondary Advanced Subsidiary was implemented. When I started in Oshikoto, there was no examination written at the grade 11 level, which is the first exit grade. Therefore, there cannot be a comparison with any other curriculum, which was prior to my arrival in the region. The first examination at the senior secondary level was written in 2020.

The new curriculum is demanding and of higher quality than the previous curriculum. 

The region did a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis in 2020 and accordingly developed ways to transfer skills and knowledge.

This ensures better academic outcomes by setting strategic objectives and ensuring that the interventions are implemented. 

Evaluation and monitoring systems as well as tools for targeted outcomes were developed (holiday classes, external exam markers analysis as well as schools and classroom visits). 

In addition, we held motivational talks for both learners and teachers.

We also had workshops and induction for principals and heads of departments. 

We held workshop and capacity-building for teachers across the phases. 

The above results should not be reached in isolation, as all the other lower grades contribute to the success of both grade 11 and 12). 

Therefore, there is a need across Namibia to equally invest in the improvement of learning and teaching at primary and secondary.

FH: Talk to us about your journey.  

AE: I have been part of education from the very beginning – a career educator.

I started as a teacher in 1999 and became a head of department in 2005. I became a principal in the Khomas region (Project School) from 2006-2012. I became a manager of loans at the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund 2013 until June 2014. I was deputy director in Hardap between 2014-2018 and director in Oshikoto from 2019 to now.  

Each level groomed and prepared me for the next one. I learnt at each level. The most difficult level to work was as a principal, but here we are. I start every journey with the end in mind. Therefore, I started with the drafting of the handing over volume (Oshikoto at a Glance in 2022). 

What is next? The sky is not even the limit. I am excited about the next chapter of my life.

FH: What is your message to teachers?

AE: The teacher operates at multiple levels (teacher, mentor and parent). Keep on pushing to answer on the mandate. Teach the learner in your class – not the ideal learner in your mind. Learners are sent to get knowledge. Let us keep on providing that knowledge. Keep on mentoring and role-modelling. Teachers are the role models. Our teachers are the foundation layers and torchbearers of the nation. All careers came through you. You are playing the most critical role in the equation of national excellence. You are givers of hope.

I quote Theodor Roosevelt who once said “the quality of a nation is known by the quality of its citizens. The quality of citizens is known by the quality of the education, and the quality of the education is known by the quality of a teacher’. 

The nation flourishes under quality teachers. Oshikoto teachers, you are valued and appreciated!

FH: What is your message to the learners? 

AE: Keep pushing. Your village is waiting for you to bring development. Be so much invested in your education. Make use of the opportunity of free education, and give the best because you can. You can become whatever you want. Apply the five D principles: desire, discipline, dedication, determination and diligence.

FH: Any last word? 

AE: To all the stakeholders who supported the Oshikoto Regional Education Department during my tenure. Thank you to the unified staff members who gave their all to ensure the region provides holistic education by ensuring that each division, section and sub-sections answered in their duties. 

General service/labourers, Tate John Kaale and team, thank you for your hard work. Because of you, we worked in a very clean environment.