In honour of the heroes of the liberation struggle, Namibia reflects not only on the victories on the battlefield but also on the freedoms and rights being enjoyed today.

This is at the backdrop of this year's Heroes Day that will be commemorated in the Zambezi Region.

Historian Calicious Simone, in an interview, says that the country has made commendable progress in academia since its independence in 1990.

He says free education has lifted a financial burden from many parents, as they do not have to worry about affording to put their children through school.

Simone says with the construction of new schools in recent decades, many learners from rural areas no longer have to walk long distances, as was the case during the liberation struggle. 

Despite the achievements made, he acknowledged that children in rural areas remain challenged, especially in terms of nutrition and being able to afford proper school uniforms. 

"When it is cold, other learners who don't have enough clothes struggle to go to school, and parents cannot afford school uniforms so that their children can be the same as others. So that also means there are challenges, but this does not stop a child from going to school even though there are challenges."

Simone urged learners to show better appreciation for their teachers, saying that, particularly in rural areas, these professionals make many sacrifices for the sake of their gaining an education.

He further called out a noted decline in patriotism and an uptick in moral decay, which he attributed to young people not being aware of the struggles fought, on their behalf, before independence.

"There is kind of a moral decay when it comes to learners we are teaching now. But it's where again we can call upon the church to strengthen the way of teaching. In the past the church used to spearhead education so that it could have that element, and it should be strong again in our learners."

He called on learners to appreciate the benefits of their modernised classrooms, from electricity to running water. 

Gains noted since independence include the end of segregated education, free primary and secondary level education and the declaration of education as a fundamental human right.