Otjiwarongo secondary pushes back against claims of declining standards

Acting principal says the school is determined to reclaim its place among Namibia's leading public schools as parents voice concerns over declining academic standards.

Otjiwarongo Secondary School says it is determined to restore its place among Namibia's leading public schools, with Acting Principal Raisameua Kasaona acknowledging parents' concerns over academic performance while expressing confidence that the school can regain its national standing.

Speaking to Namibian Sun on Wednesday, Kasaona said the school remains committed to improving learner outcomes through intervention programmes, including afternoon and weekend classes, despite challenges ranging from curriculum changes to growing learner numbers and the absence of a permanently appointed principal.

"The expectations are high. Otjiwarongo Secondary School has been one of the top-performing schools in the country for years. It was unfortunate that we couldn't achieve that, but we are quite positive looking forward that the school will be up there again," he said.

The school's comments follow interviews with parents who told Namibian Sun they had transferred their children to other schools, citing concerns over declining academic standards.

Otjiwarongo Secondary reached its recent peak in the 2020 examination cycle, when it ranked second among Namibia's public schools, behind only Rukonga Vision School.

Since then, while it has remained one of the strongest public schools in the Otjozondjupa Region, it has not consistently returned to the national top tier in publicly reported rankings.

Kasaona said parents' concerns were understandable given the school's history and reputation.

"The parents, in their rightful mind, are free to make their own judgement based on how they feel. One cannot say they are wrong. That's how high the expectations are for Otjiwarongo Secondary School," he said.

Huge impact

He said the introduction of the revised curriculum and increased learner enrolment had created additional pressure on schools across the country, including Otjiwarongo Secondary.

"When it comes to academics, there are a lot of factors that play a huge role. The new curriculum had a huge impact not only on our school but on many schools in general. The increase in learner intake also puts pressure on resources and textbooks," he said.

Kasaona said teachers continue to hold afternoon and weekend classes to help learners improve their academic performance.

"There are a lot of programmes taking place to try and keep the standard of the school," he said.

Parent Mathilde Doeses, whose two children previously attended the school, said she believes the academic standard has declined compared to previous years.

"The academic standard has definitely gone down," she said, attributing the decline to the revised curriculum, the departure of experienced teachers, changing learner discipline and the influence of social media.

Another parent, Magadelena Amakali, said she eventually transferred one of her children after becoming increasingly concerned about academic performance.

"It became repetitive until I had no choice but to move my child. It wasn't something I wanted to do, but I couldn't afford to have my child fail," she said.

A teacher, who requested anonymity, said the issue should not be viewed as a matter of blame.

"I have been here for many years and have seen learners come and go. Some who failed later became excellent graduates working for respected companies, while others became successful entrepreneurs. Yes, there may have been a slight increase in the failure rate, but academic performance is influenced by many factors.

Learners also have a responsibility for the effort they put into their studies," the teacher said.

The teacher added that restoring the school's reputation would require a collective effort.

"Teachers, parents, learners and the education authorities all need to come on board. Everyone wants to see Otjiwarongo Secondary regain the standard it has long been known for."

[email protected]