De Duine aiming for the top

Mariselle Stofberg
Juandro van Rooi

De Duine Secondary School is making great strides academically. In the national rank order for the Namibia Senior Secondary School Certificate Higher Level (NSSCH) for public schools De Duine was placed 11th out of 139 schools in 2019. In 2018, it received the 51st position. This year 68 students sat for the NSSCH exams.

Regionally, this means that De Duine received second place for the public schools category in the NSSCH exams. It was ranked 7th in the 2018 examinations.

In both private and public schools, De Duine is still amongst the top five, clinching the fourth position, behind Swakopmund Private School (first), Walvis Bay Private High School (second) and Namib High School (third).

The principal, Anton Van Wyk, said that he is extremely proud of the learners. “I am positive with the cooperation of my team and all learners we can reach the top position.”

In addition, the third overall best performer in the region, in the Namibia Secondary School Certificate Ordinary Level (NSSCO) hails from De Duine and she is Colista Platt.

She achieved an A-symbol in Afrikaans, A* in English, C in mathematics, C in Biology, D in physical science and a C-symbol in geography.

Speaking to her about what her recipe of success is, she said that it starts with yourself.

“If you feel that you want to achieve success then you have to put in all the effort for you to make sure you get it. My recipe was simply studying during tests, but the most important thing is to be in class during lessons to listen and take in what the teacher is saying.”

She said that being a good listener, made it easier to study. “I could recall what the teacher taught during class. After listening in class I would read through the work with understanding. As for the final exams I studied a month before the exams and took two days to finish one subject, then I would just go on to the next. My study method is comfortable to me but most would find the 2-day studying one subject difficult.”

Currently, she is researching her options. “I am not sure which career path to follow, since I want to do a bit more research. Accounting is what I am currently doing research on to be able to go and study for it in 2021.”

In addition, Platt was one of the learners who had the opportunity to travel to Rheine, Germany last year. This opportunity is made possible through partnership between Euregio Gesamschule in Germany and De Duine. The Duregio partnership which was founded almost a decade ago and allows learners from Namibia to visit their sister school in Germany and vice versa.

“It was truly a wonderful experience, I learned a lot of new things. The specific project we were busy with which was about recycling, made me saw things in a different light. I can still apply the lessons I learned in Germany to everyday life. My host family was lovely people, and I would love to visit them again to learn a bit more.”

She furthermore said that learners need to know what they focus is when it comes to their education. “Most learners feel that studying is not fun, but once you start you will see that it is worth it in the end. Exit the party bus for now and study. The time for partying and friends will always be there waiting but first make sure you finish your education path with success to make a better future for yourself.”