Representatives from various schools in the Oshikoto region met for a five-day training workshop on social accountability and school governance this week.

The workshop, organised by the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture, in conjunction with Rossing Foundation, was aimed at training educators who will take on the responsibility of training school board members in their respective circuits or schools.

Topics included school board structures and composition, rights and responsibilities of school boards, conducting elections, school finance (education grant and community contributions), mapping of social accountability tools and processes onto national standards, and performance indicators. 

Executive director of Rossing Foundation Job Kunovipo Tjiho stated that the schools which perform well are those that have good governance, and a “lack of parental involvement is the key missing link to ensuring optimal school performance.” 

He thus encouraged schools to work hand-in-hand with parents and the community to ensure that best- practices are established for the sake of providing children with a good education. 

Oshikoto governor Penda ya Ndakolo said quality education can only be made a reality through continuous efforts. 

“I urge the school leaderships to ensure that everything taught here this week is shared with all school boards in Oshikoto.”