High school exam results are always analysed and debated at the beginning of a new year.
Pupils who achieve the best results, particularly in mathematics and science, are praised, photographed, profiled, asked to share their tips for study success and provided an opportunity to reveal their educational dreams.
They’re often invited to declare which university or college, locally or outside of Namibia, they intend to study at and to share their career plans.
High schools with the highest number of distinction passes are recognised and celebrated.
Namibia’s administrative regions leading the list of schools with the highest number of student passes are generously acknowledged and the slackers are exposed as a method of knuckle rapping.
Although the focus is on academic success, inadequate performance is reported in the media, with calls made by self-proclaimed experts on those schools, their teachers and pupils to improve this year.
In the confusion of noise emanating from discussions and debate, the ugly side of this is often overlooked – the overwhelming and ever-increasing number of school dropouts.
Reasons for the high number of dropouts are known and include a lack of parental and family support, health issues, the study environment at home and at school, and inadequately resourced institutions.
There is a tendency to forget that teachers are there to assist, but the first responsibility of educating our children rests with parents.
The community must also contribute to the development of young people by providing role models to look up to.
Community sport and recreation facilities, libraries and youth centres are needed, where with the assistance of the local authority or municipality, peers, retired educators and others residing in the neighbourhood could offer study support.
Many towns and villages in Namibia still lack the afore mentioned facilities.
For the school-leavers not progressing to tertiary level and for the dropouts securing a job or venturing into business, the needed skills can be acquired with help and support.
Education, and not only academic education, is the key to success for an individual, the family, communities, and the nation.
It opens doors for young people, provides a better quality of life for families, alleviates poverty in a community, positions a nation to accelerate its civil and economic development, and fosters international cooperation.
Through improved education and life skills preparation, young people become more engaged with each other.
This contributes to the development of a democratic society and a stronger economy, as well as promotes civil awareness.
Nation building begins with preparing the youth, those who progress to tertiary education and the many school-leavers and dropouts, for collectively they are Namibia’s real gems.
As it may be, young people are our future and how we prepare them today for tomorrow is not a cliché, but must be taken seriously.
This is what we should focus on – not only the government, but also as individuals, residents, communities across the country and the private sector.
- Danny Meyer is reachable at danny@smecompete.com
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