The ||Kharas Regional Directorate has awarded the best top Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level performers and best-performing teachers at the ||Kharas regional prize-giving ceremony held in Keetmanshoop.
The region improved its ranking nationally, moving from 11th place in the NSSCO in 2024 to 8th place in 2025 and in the NSSCO from 14th place to 12th place.
PK De Villiers dominated, with Keanen Diergaardt in 10th place, followed by Shaun Plaaitjies in 9th place, Immanuel Goeieman in 8th place and Sakaria Ita in 7th place and in 6th place. Carmen Mupewa from Tsau||Khaeb Secondary School in Rosh Pina came 6th, Jada Paulton from Keetmanshoop Secondary School came 5th, and Faith Basson from !Garibams Secondary School in 4th place.
Chiara Awasman from St Theresa Secondary School in Tses fell in 3rd place with 41 points. Beatilde Aukelo from Lordsville Secondary School, Karasburg, fell in second place with 43 points, and the highest achiever in the region is Grace Aloa from Angra Pequena Secondary School from Lüderitz in first place.
Dawid Gertze is Governor of the ||Kharas Region.
"Your success is not only a personal victory; it's a regional asset because it signals vitality, the potential you have in yourself and your innovative spirit that resides within our communities. The achievements we honour here are a powerful testament to a very powerful equation, which is ability with effort with support, which equates to excellence and success."
Teachers from a variety of schools in Kharasburg, Oranjemund, Lüderitz and Keetmanshoop scooped the majority of the NSSCO and NSSCAS teacher awards after recording some of the highest subject pass rates in the region.
The mayor of Keetmanshoop, Melody Swartbooi, says. "Most teachers are not getting their flowers. Being a parent at home and having other social responsibilities, you have to manage somehow; sometimes it's impossible, but you make it possible. You are the second guardians; you are the parents of our children when we send them to school."
The NBC News team spoke to the region's top performer, Angra Peguena SSS Grace Aloa, who provided a motivational message to fellow school learners.
"I feel very excited and overwhelmed with all types of positive emotions, and I am just very happy to be here. I was also surprised when I was called up. I want to encourage them to stay motivated, disciplined, and consistent and always hang with the right crowd of people."
Additionally, PK De Villliers received an award for best NSSCO school, and Angra Pequena SSS won the best NSSCAS school, each school walking away with N$10 000.