Many learners do not have guidance at home and, as a result, attend school under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a situation that is undesirable and discouraging to teachers.

The Minister of Education, Arts, and Culture, Anna Nighipondoka, made this assertion on Wednesday when she officially announced the National Ordinary and Advanced Subsidiary results.

Nghipondoka did not mince her words when she called for active parental involvement in the academic affairs of their children.

"Parents, there is danger looming in our societies, no matter how busy you are or how engaged we are, the future of our children is precious, their lives are precious, they are our pride. If our children are failing just because we are not guiding them, honestly, who is to blame? We don't know where they are after school, and we don't know where they are on weekends. We don't know if they do their homework."

The minister also stated that her office was made aware of allegations that some learners have become drug mules while others engage in sex work.

She says these social ills are a great concern.

"If these children are coming to school and they are tired, drowsy, drunk, high, and disobedient, they do not even listen to the teachers, no matter what the teacher is doing in class, they have become a danger to our teachers."

In the past, police were called out to some schools in Windhoek in an effort to curb the use of drugs at schools, with daily body searches being conducted on pupils.

Police also reported instances where drugs were confiscated from primary school learners who had allegedly been selling drugs on instruction from their parents.

Nghipondoka maintains that it is imperative that parents realise they are key stakeholders in the academic and social development of their children and calls for the consistent involvement of parents and guardians.