Kavango East Regional Education Director, Christine Shilima, says the academic performance of learners in Grades 1, 2 and 3 is a cause for concern.

"The Kavango East Region is not doing well in terms of literacy and numeracy for our grades 1, 2, and 3 learners. Samples taken in 2025 show that our learners performed below 30%. They can’t read and write properly and fluently. It’s a concern.”

She also says the repetition rate at junior primary, Grade 8 and 10 is worrisome. 

The Directorate of Education in Kavango East is currently hosting a stakeholders' conference in the Mukwe Constituency. 

Shilima says the idea is to find solutions to some of the problems related to poor performance in the region. 

“That’s why we are here today. We cannot afford to have many learners repeating grades 1, 2, and 3 while they are being taught in their mother tongue."