The Ministry of Education, Arts, and Culture Executive Director, Sanet Steenkamp, has reminded learners of their responsibility to break the cycle of unemployment and poverty through education, saying it rests with them. 

Steenkamp shared the sentiments while addressing learners of the Mariental-based Empelheim Secondary School during the inauguration of newly constructed classroom blocks. 

"Help us break the cycle of dysfunctional homes. Help us to continue to develop ourselves and to grow, and we can only do that when we respect education. When we invest as learners our time, sound time management into education. When we invest our energies into studying, when we support our parents at home and respect teachers." 

The Executive Director also issued a stern warning to learners who disrespect teachers, saying it will not be tolerated. 

"Your teachers are appointed, and they have the authority to continue to install the discipline and work on the discipline you come from home. So I expect of all learners not just to be respectful of the teachers and the teaching profession, but to live and to contribute with the right level of dignity to the educational outcomes. Your learning outcome."

Hardap Governor Salomon April echoed similar sentiments while urging the learners to refrain from vandalism of school infrastructure. 

"These days you are wasting your time at school premises, hours of learning at school premises, and when you finish your school and do not pass with acceptable grades, you turn around and blame everybody else except yourselves." 

The governor also unveiled the plaque marking the official renaming of H Vedder Primary School to DD ǂGuibeb Primary School. 

This week teachers and learners are celebrating the school's 56th anniversary.