This year's results were considered as average in many circles.

As in previous years, a relatively small number of 3 956 candidates - 12.5 per cent of the total number of full-time and part-time Grade 12 candidates - wrote the HIGCSE examination comprising 22 subjects.

Most of them -3 650 - were full-time students and only 306 were part-time candidates.

The examination is conducted jointly by the Directorate National Examinations and Assessment (DNEA) and Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) in the United Kingdom.

Annel scored a 1 grade in all seven subjects and her hard work earned her a National Open Scholarship of N$2 000 sponsored by CIE for best aggregate score.

Annel's subjects were Afrikaans as first language, English as second language, biology, physical science, mathematics, accounting and computer science.

She was followed by Robert Ulrich of St Paul's College as the best male and Monika Kamkuemah of Deutsche Hoehere Privatschule (DHPS) as the best female performer in six HIGCSE subjects.

Morné Louw of St Paul's and DHPS's Julia Mueller emerged as the best male and female performers in five HIGCSE subjects.

The latter four students received national prizes of N$1 000 each, also sponsored by CIE.

This year, the HIGCSE level was offered at 56 senior secondary schools countrywide - five more than last year.

* The IGCSE results will be released in the week of January 22 to 26.

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