Oshakati — The Oshana Education Directorate started its annual educational conference yesterday, aiming at reviewing, discussing and sharing information on educational performance in the Oshana region - bringing stakeholders together for reviewing the regional education performance, identifying factors hampering quality education delivery and to explore ways of improving the level of literacy and numeracy among young learners.

At the opening, Deputy Minister of Education Dr Becky Ndjoze-Ojo said the region feels it is important to review its work and performance with the purpose of determining successes, challenges and constraints, as well as to come up with strategies for the way forward to ensure the improvement of the education performance in the region.

Ndjoze-Ojo noted that the education sector is the most crucial in spearheading the attainment of Vision 2030.

In reference to the goals of the third National Development Plan (NDP3) - to have productive and competent human resources and institutions, and also to attain the goals of adequate supply of a qualified, productive and competitive labour force - the deputy mi-nister questioned how the accomplishment of results in these areas will be realized if people are not coming together to discuss and review pertinent issues in the education system.

"It is through efficient and effective knowledge and skills acquisition that the young generation will be able to take over from us and be able to vigorously spearhead the socio-economic development of Namibia. This means whatever happens in the classroom situation should be well thought out and be useful. The activities learners are challenged with should make them productive citizens beyond the classroom," said Ndjoze-Ojo.

She said proper planning, strong school management and leadership, effective supervision, monitoring, evaluation of teaching and learning and passion for excellence are some of the core values that need to be strengthened in order to succeed.

Ndjoze-Ojo pointed out the direct responsibility of knowledge and skills acquisition by learners lies with the education sector, but it cannot effectively happen without the participation or helping hand of the private sector.

"We should love to see the continuation of this support for the education sector to deliver quality services to our people."

She concluded that it is only through focus and visionary leadership that things can happen and called upon people to be courageous, determined and full of initiatives enough to ensure that the regional objectives will lead to the achievement of national objectives.

Most of those who attended the workshop are educational directors in the region, school principals and heads of departments from 130 schools in Oshana.

The workshop ends on Friday.