Windhoek — Annastasia Mukunda Kandingo (18) from St Boniface College in the Kavango Region is the best overall performer in the country, having passed the Grade 12 NSSC Ordinary Level examinations in six subjects.

Kandingo hails from very humble beginnings, and achieved that feat against all odds. Her mother is a bricklayer and her father passed away in April last year, while behind bars where he was serving time for culpable homicide.

"I did it with hard work and determinations," she said. Kandingo said that children from poor backgrounds should use that fact as a motivating factor, and not feel disadvantaged. "They should know that there will always be someone out there willing to help them."

She said Grade 12 learners should work hard from the beginning of the year, and even if they pass mid-year exams, they should not get carried away or relax, because the national examinations are still ahead of them at the end of the year.

"They should especially work harder during the August exams, because those are the results they need to apply for further studies and bursaries."

Kandingo has been admitted at the University of Namibia to study law, and she has also been shortlisted for a bursary by the Law Society of Namibia.