NSSCO Results Show Modest Gains as Fewer Than Four in Ten Learners Qualify for NSSCAS

NSSCO Results Show Modest Gains as Fewer Than Four in Ten Learners Qualify for NSSCAS. The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture has announced that only 13,921 of the 38,692 full-time learners who sat the 2025 Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary (NSSCO) examinations qualified to progress to the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Advanced Subsidiary (NSSCAS) level.

Education Minister Sanet Steenkamp said the figure represents 36% of full-time candidates, marking a slight improvement from 2024, when 29.5% of learners met the progression requirement. Qualification for NSSCAS requires a minimum grade C in at least three subjects offered at Advanced Subsidiary level.

According to the minister, learner performance varied significantly across regions. Kavango East recorded the highest proportion of qualifying learners at 52.7%, well above the national average. Other regions exceeding the national benchmark included Oshikoto at 40.7%, Khomas at 38.1%, and Kavango West at 37.6%. Omusati and Oshana also performed marginally above the national average, with 37% and 36.4% of learners qualifying, respectively.

Several regions recorded results below the national average. These included Ohangwena at 35.5%, //Kharas at 33.7%, Erongo at 32.7%, Zambezi at 31.7%, Otjozondjupa at 27.8%, Hardap at 25.7%, Omaheke at 25%, and Kunene at 23%.

Steenkamp further reported improvements in overall attainment levels. In 2025, 60.2% of full-time NSSCO learners achieved at least 20 points in five subjects, while 40.3% attained 25 points in five subjects. These figures are higher than those recorded in 2024, when 53.7% reached the 20-point threshold and 34.6% achieved 25 points.

The minister also noted that 89.7% of NSSCO subject entries for full-time candidates were graded in 2025, compared to 89.0% the previous year.

For part-time candidates, 91.2% of subject entries were graded, slightly down from 92.1% in 2024. Steenkamp said performance among part-time learners remains concentrated in lower grade bands, highlighting ongoing challenges in learning outcomes that require focused intervention.