Otjiwarongo is mourning the loss of a passionate local teacher, Melinda !Haradoes, who died earlier this week at the age of 52. 

Reading is more than just a skill; it's essential for participation in the modern world, as it provides opportunities for learning. 

Enabling primary learners to read from an early stage by teaching them vowels and phonetics was the late !Haradoes speciality.

She gained popularity last year, when the Namibia National Teachers Union (NANTU) recognised her for being innovative in her teaching. 

In Otjiwarongo, a child who passed through the late !Haradoes teaching would stand out based on his or her reading.

She was also known for sharing her teaching techniques on TikTok to pass them on to other teachers.

!Haradoes died last week after battling hypertension. 

She is survived by her husband and three children. Funeral arrangements are underway.