First Gentleman, Epaphras Ndaitwah has called on boys in the Ohangwena Region to take their education seriously, saying education remains the key pathway to a brighter future.

The ||Kharas region has recorded 261 teenage pregnancies and 1,051 pregnancy-related school dropouts between 2022 and 2026.

This was revealed during Miss World Namibia Elly Aron's courtesy visit to the Regional Educational Directorate Office in Keetmanshoop.

Concerned by rising cases of substance abuse and school dropouts among boys, Augustineum High School, in collaboration with the organisation Vision Core, on Friday hosted a seminar aimed at empowering young men to make positive life choices.

||Kharas Governor Dawid Gertze highlighted the need to fully harness the region's natural resources to drive Namibia's industrialisation agenda. 

The rising rate of school dropouts at Suiderlig High School in Keetmanshoop, ||Kharas Region, has become a serious concern. This year alone, 21 learners have left school, a significant increase from just six dropouts recorded last year.

Kunene Governor Marius Sheya says green hydrogen opportunities offered to young people in the region have not been responsive to the needs of school drop-outs.

Sheya is advocating for their inclusion in future projects.