The Education Director in ||Kharas Region, Jesmine Magermann, has called on school principals to put in concerted efforts to improve learner performance in the region.

She made the call at the annual principals meeting at Keetmanshoop.

The principals gathering analysed the performance of learners in the region, from Grade 1 to AS level, and came up with interventions to improve on the previous academic year examination results and learner performance.

||Kharas Region achieved the third spot on the Grade 11 NSSC national ranking list for 2023, but twelfth on the AS ranking order.

The recently appointed education director also expressed dismay at what she called the verbal and physical abuse of learners by teachers. 

She reminds principals that corporal punishment is a breach of the law. 

"It is saddening to know that corporal punishment and the administering of corporal punishment are still taking place at our schools."

Bennie Diergaardt, acting CRO of the ||Kharas Regional Council, called on principals to aim towards achieving the top spot for the region on the NSSC and NSSCAS rankings next year. 

"We were second, we know how it feels to be second, we know now how it feels to be third, we want us to push for the number one position, we know that, you know that too, I am leaving that challenge to you, let us push for the number one position because I am 100% sure that we would be able to achieve."

Diergaardt, furthermore, says preparations are being made to host an awards event for students and schools to honour their outstanding achievements in the 2024 academic year.

Newly appointed principals were also announced at the meeting, while pots, cups, plates, and cutlery donated by partners in education were distributed to schools for the government feeding programme.