The First Gentleman of Namibia, Epaphras Ndaitwah, has urged boys to take their education seriously, saying their representation declines as they move through the education system.

Speaking during his third engagement in the Kunene Region, in Khorixas, Ndaitwah said his focus on the plight of the boy child does not exclude girls. 

He highlighted the academic gap between boys and girls.

"A research was made by UNAM, and it came clear, and it is very pathetic that for the last 30 years in our education system there was no time in terms of percentage, from grade 12 to university; there was no time a boy was leading in terms of percentage."

Ndaitwah added that while boys dominate in numbers at Grade One, girls begin to take the lead as they progress through the education system.

"NUST at its graduation, 60% were girls; the remaining 40% were for boys. UNAM 63% – something for the remaining 33% – something for boys. NUST graduated 10 doctors this year; only 3 were boys, and the rest were girls."

He emphasised that the aim is not to discourage the progress of girls but to encourage boys to also reach their full potential.

"What I am advocating for is a balanced society."

Ndaitwah urged boys to take up the challenge, stay focused on their education and make use of opportunities to further their studies.