Sawi Hausiku
RUNDU – A good project or idea cannot go unnoticed for long, just as cream poured in coffee or tea eventually rises to the top.
This idiom perfectly embodies the fervour the Dr Herbert Ndango Diaz Senior Secondary School in Rundu has for academic excellence, despite odds seemingly stacked against them.
Established in 2023 as a school operating under tents, it has rapidly risen to become one of the top 10- performing schools in the Kavango East region in 2024.
The school began with 20 tents set up at the Rundu Trade Fair Centre grounds to accommodate an overflow of learners in grades 8, 9 and 10 from other local schools.
“The schools in Rundu could not absorb the high number of learners, which compelled the directorate of education in the region to establish a new school for 730 pupils,” principal Hamunyera Konrad told Nampa in an interview this week.
At its inception, the school had no permanent infrastructure; tents were borrowed from various stakeholders, along with chairs and desks. Teachers, including the principal, were transferred from other schools to staff the new institution.
Known then as the Rundu Project School, it mainly enrolled learners who had previously failed or had disciplinary challenges. “Our priority was to transform these learners by instilling commitment into their studies. This was not easy, especially with frequent changes among the teaching staff,” Konrad noted.
The school also faced elevated instances of petty crimes such as cellphone snatching and robberies amongst its learners.
In September 2023, the school transitioned from makeshift tents to a permanent facility after the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture’s allocation of N$20 million for constructing a fully-equipped school.
“The new classrooms greatly motivated both learners and teachers. Everyone was more dedicated. We introduced extra classes during holidays, and we began to see improvements in exam results by early 2024,” the principal added.
The school’s academic progress was further boosted by integrating learners from various schools, and receiving support from high-performing teachers elsewhere.
These efforts culminated in their first external exams for Grade 11 Ordinary Level, where the school impressively ranked 10th out of 36 schools in the region.
Despite its promising achievements, principal Konrad highlighted a few ongoing challenges. The school lacks an administrative office block, which hampers smooth operations.
“We urgently need office space for teachers. Currently, they are forced to work from a classroom,” he said. Additional needs include a science laboratory to enhance practical learning, and a computer lab to provide pupils with essential 21st-century digital skills.
Looking ahead, Dr Herbert Ndango Diaz Senior Secondary School aims to offer advanced subsidiary level courses, and partially transform into a technical school.
“We have noticed that many of our pupils excel in technical subjects like agriculture, as not all learners thrive in purely academic subjects,” said Konrad. Director of Education in the region Christine Shilima said she is “so proud” of the school’s rapid progress.
The directorate is busy planning an awards ceremony this year where schools such as Dr Herbert Ndango Diaz will be recognised, she noted. -Nampa