Adolf Kaure
Rudolf Gaiseb
Education minister Sanet Steenkamp announced that 40.3% of the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) candidates achieved at least 25 points from five subjects during the 2025 examinations to advance to the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary level (NSSCAS).
This represents a 5.7% increase compared to 34.6% in 2024.
“The 2025 results continue to reflect our learners’ true capabilities and stand as evidence of the robustness of our national assessment standards,” Steenkamp said. “This shows a much-needed expansion in the pool of learners meeting the minimum academic threshold for advanced subsidiary-level studies.”
In total, 13 921 candidates qualify for progression to AS level compared to 12 031 in 2024.
The ministry set ambitious yet attainable targets, guided by clearly defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), which are aligned to NDP6 targets.
The KPIs aim to ensure that the outcomes of the examinations meaningfully reflect the progress we strive to achieve.
KPIs
At the NSSCO level, two key performance indicators (KPIs) are central to evaluating learner performance and readiness for further study.
The first KPI measures the percentage of full-time candidates who qualify for progression to the NSSCAS level by achieving a minimum ‘grade C’ in at least three subjects offered at NSSCAS.
In 2025, 36% of the learners achieved this compared to 29.5% in 2024.
The second KPI, evaluating overall academic strength, has been revised in 2025 from the previous benchmark of at least 20 points in at least five subjects to a more ambitious standard of at least 25 points. Performance against the previous 20 points KPI is reflected for continuity and comparative analysis.
“Overall, these KPIs present a coherent picture of enhanced learner readiness for advanced study and diversified post-school pathways, including progression to NSSCAS, vocational training and higher education programmes, subject to different institutional entry requirements,” she said. “The consistent upward trend across all indicators underscores positive gains in system-level performance and the effectiveness of ongoing efforts to strengthen teaching, learning and assessment at the NSSCO level,” said the minister.
In total, 89.7% of the NSSCO subject entries for full-time were graded compared to 89% in 2024.
For part-time candidates, 91.2% of the total NSSCO subject entries were graded compared to 92.1% in 2024. In total, 38 692 full-time candidates registered for NSSCO in 2025 compared to 40 757 in 2024, while 42 819 part-time candidates registered for NSSCO in 2025 compared to 39 002 in 2024 (a 9.8% increase).
NSSCAS level
In 2025, 11 968 full-time candidates registered for the NSSCAS examinations, compared to 9 835 in 2024 (a 21.7% increase). In addition, 1 182 part-time candidates registered in 2025 compared to 779 in 2024.
Steenkamp expressed satisfaction with the national examination results, citing the importance of being a cornerstone of confidence in the country’s education system.
“They affirm to the nation, to parents and to every learner that our assessments are conducted with fairness, accuracy and integrity.”
“High-stakes national examinations such as the NSSCO and NSSCAS remain fundamental instruments for measuring, first and foremost, what has been taught, and more importantly, what has been learned.”
“These assessments serve as an objective scale through which the ministry evaluates the effectiveness of its curriculum delivery, the depth of learners’ understanding, and the overall health of our education system.”
Impressed
Meanwhile, the Directorate of National Examinations and Assessment (DNEA) is impressed by the outcome of the results but also expressed concerns.
DNEA director Clemmentine Garises told New Era that learners lose marks because of untaught topics.
“When markers mark, they find that all learners do not attempt certain questions of a specific topic. What do you conclude? It was not taught. Whatever reasons the teachers have, we don’t know, but that is it. Some topics are never taught,” she said.
Learners also lose marks over the lack of knowledge on the basic elements of answering questions during examinations, and this contributes to their overall performance.
While delving deeper into the examination assessment report, she said learners answer questions without including units or formulas, “Basic things they should not be losing marks over,” she said.
The institution, Garises noted, will continue pointing out these issues to teachers across the country to aid how learners approach questions and improve overall results.
Results
Moreover, Negumbo Senior Secondary Schools in Omusati leads the charge among the top 10 public schools for NSSCO full-time candidates nationally.
In 2024, it was Rukonga Vision School in Kavango East, which now stands in second position.
Rev. Juuso Shikongo Secondary School in Oshikoto is in third, followed by Onawa Senior Secondary School in Omusati, which stood at second position in 2024.
Max Makushe Secondary School in Kavango East obtained the fifth spot, while the sixth spot is occupied by Ongwediva Junior Secondary School in Oshana.
Oshikunde Combined School in Ohangwena, Ruacana Vocational Secondary School in Omusati, Matumbo Angelina Ribebe JSS in Kavango East, and Mupewa Combined School in Omusati take the 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th positions, respectively.
The top three private schools on the same level are Canisianum RC School, Oshigambo High School and Northcote Academy, respectively.
Furthermore, in national rankings for top 10 public schools for NSSCAS (full-time candidates), Rukonga Vision School in Kavango East, Onawa Senior Secondary School and Eengedjo Senior Secondary School in Ohangwena top the chart in that order.
Epukiro High School in Omaheke is fourth, followed by Grootfontein Secondary School in Otjozondjupa, Oshela Secondary School in Ohangwena, A. Shipena Secondary School in Khomas, and Kandjimi Murangi SS in Kavango West.
Negumbo Senior Secondary Schools in Omusati and Dr. Lemmer High School in Hardap take the 9th and 10th positions, respectively.
In regional rankings on NSSCO level, Kavango East takes the lead, a redemption from the 7th position in 2024.
Oshikoto was first in 2024, but this time moved down one point.
Kavango West is third, also a decrease from the previous year’s number two spot.
Khomas improved to fourth position this time from eighth in 2024, while Omusati has lost its third position, taking the fifth spot.
Ohangwena is sixth, and Oshana seventh from fourth in the previous year. //Kharas is eighth, while Erongo is stationed in the same spot as the previous year, ninth.
Zambezi is positioned 10th in 2025, a fall from the 6th position in 2024.
Otjozondjupa stands at the 11th spot, followed by Omaheke.
Kunene has the 13th spot, while Hardap moved with a foot, from 13 to 14.
Steenkamp said that the changing rank order serves as a clear reminder that no region can afford complacency.
“Sustained effort and continuous improvement are required to maintain or advance performance,” she said.
Moreover, Marian Kweyo (Rukonga Vision School), Dacrus Manuel (Rukonga Vision), and Emilia Nghipandulwa (Onawa SSS) are the top three in the country at the ordinary level.
Panduleni Nghitanwa (Oshigambo HS), Nicodemus Heita (Onawa SSS) and Elao Aushona (Onawa SSS) top on AS level.
