OKANKOLO: The Director of Education in the Oshikoto Region, Aletta Eises, has urged learners to prioritise their studies over social media platforms.

Eises was speaking during the launch of the 2024 academic year and Oshikoto regional performance enhancement awards ceremony at Onguti Secondary School in the Okankolo Constituency.

‘Many learners are on Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms. They need to get off Facebook and face their books,’ said Eises.

The education director further said learners should not wait for the final examinations and should instead start preparing themselves now.

‘We need to start now because we only have a few months left before the final examinations,’ she said.

She also called upon parents to assist in fostering academic discipline among learners by establishing rules and standards at home.

Eises emphasised the theme for the year, ‘Teamwork for action towards excellence,’ stressing the collaborative effort required from both schools and parents.

‘Parents must
help the education system so that we can achieve excellence and move forward together to raise our learners,’ she said.

She further advised principals to motivate and inspire teachers and learners rather than resorting to bullying or manipulation.

‘Bullying and manipulation are not a management style, we should lead with a firm hand and a soft heart,’ Eises said.

The director’s remarks followed a decline in the Oshikoto Region’s ranking from fourth to seventh in Grade 12 results in 2023 and an improvement from eighth to fourth position in Grade 11 results.

The Regional Councillor for the Okankolo Constituency, Hans Nambondi, echoed the call for collaboration among stakeholders in the education sector to support learners in achieving their aspirations.

‘Teachers, parents, traditional leaders, business people and political leaders, let us all team up to help our learners in achieving their dreams,’ said Nambondi.

Source: Namibia Press Agency