Challenges facing the education sector are not insurmountable but require evidence-based decision-making by education managers to help address them effectively.

The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, said this while responding to concerns by education managers during an engagement session at Keetmanshoop. 

Principals and Heads of Departments of schools in Keetmanshoop, as well as the regional education directorate leadership, attended the minister's engagement.

They raised concerns, among others, policy issues relating to staff promotion norms, the struggle to get vacant positions filled and issues surrounding the education curriculum. 

Principal of Suiderlig Secondary School, Rebekka Enkali-Aupokolo, highlighted "||Kharas Region might be the only one that has senior education officers that are running all the grades. From grade zero only one senior education for a certain subject:" 

The principal of Kronlein Primary School, Metumo Aupokolo, stressed, "What is so difficult for a director to appoint a non-teaching staff member if a cleaner leaves a position or a school secretary leaves a position? The region has to recommend for that position to be advertised, even a vacancy that existed."

The principal of P.K. De Villiers Secondary School, Pieter Skeyer, said, "We need to streamline our policies in such a way that treats everybody in our country the same, because the appointment requirements – yes, we are having the PAM, which is clear that is what is expected. But, when it comes to the reality of shortlisting, then people are saying, "No, it's according to the needs of that region. But why does it differ per region if the requirement for appointment is the same?"

Head of Department at Mina Sachs Primary School, Vivienne Hangula, added, "When are those periods for us also being cut? Since the HOD periods that they suppose to teach are 75%."

Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, responded, "Most of the things that were said are not impossible. There is a great possibility the moment we apply our minds and we make evidence based in the region that is now elevated to the head office and eventually to the Public Service Commission."

Dr. Steenkamp further commended interventions taken aimed at improving the region's education performance on the national ranking.   

She also called for zero-tolerance towards teachers who lack professional commitment and compromise learning outcomes. 

While urging parents to take an active role in their children's education, the minister also called on school managers to involve parents and reminded parents to respect teachers' profession.