Windhoek
Hage Geingob High School is trying to break the perception that performing schools are only confined to the leafy suburbs of Windhoek and not the high-density areas, the school’s principal Joe Sasa says.
Although the school – named after the current state president – is not first on the list of best performing schools in Khomas Region, it is proving to be a force to be reckoned with.
In the Grade 12 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate (NSSC) ordinary results the school came seventh – but among government schools it is second, after Delta Secondary School. In the Grade 10 examinations the school was ranked third in Khomas Region.
Established 13 years ago, the school is situated between Freedom Land and Hakahana townships. The school has 40 teachers and 960 learners.
“We are on the outskirt of Windhoek but we are trying to show the rest that it doesn’t matter where you find yourself – you can also have the same quality of education just like someone else,” Sasa said.
“This actually came from one of the parents that said why should learners waste their time going somewhere very far and pay double taxi money when quality education is at their doorstep, I mean our school.”
The principal said the school owes its performance to teachers who are committed and sacrifice their time to be with the learners.
“They teach and work with learners at the learners’ pace. The teachers are self-driven and motivated,” said an excited Sasa about last year’s excellent academic performance.
He indicated that last year they had 245 learners with a pass rate of 79.2 percent, translating to 194 learners who proceeded to Grade 11 and for this reason the school created an extra Grade 11 class.
The school is dedicated to extra Grade 10 and 12 afternoon teaching. They also have weekend (Saturday) classes, and on public holidays and during part of the school holidays.
“For other classes whenever there is a need, they also come in the afternoon and weekends to catch up,” he stated.
“Around here we are the only ones you see in school uniform over weekends because the school boards said that whenever learners come for classes they must wear uniform so that can be identified that they are going to school. And that helps a lot in improving results,” further stated Sasa.
He added that there is a culture of staff caring for the learners. “When you care about the learners and the learners realize that, the response will be always positive – that whatever the teachers are doing is for the learners’ own good.”
Where to from here?
Sasa said the school is already in the category of good performing schools and from this year they will try to further improve the quality of symbols.
“The motto for this year is to add value to those results,” stated the Hage Geingob High School principal.
When asked about a queue of learners and parents lined up at the administration block looking for placement, Sasa explained they are under pressure from the community wanting admission at the school. “Sometimes we are forced to take more than we should. This results in overcrowding in our classrooms but still we manage to cope.”
Sasa said learners and parents prefer the school mostly because of its performance. He said there is a tendency of parents moving their children from other schools and bringing them to the school and even when they are referred to other schools they don’t go there. They want their children to be enrolled at Hage Geingob High School
Furthermore, the principal explained they don’t have discipline or substance abuse problems with learners. “We have teenage pregnancy but only one or two and girls returned to school after they gave birth.”
He said the main challenge is that some learners come from areas with a lot of noise pollution and they cannot study at home, which is why the school provides them with an opportunity to study at school.
He also said the majority of learners come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and some walk long distances to school while hungry and have to remain at school for the afternoon classes.