Katima mulilo: First Gentleman, Retired Lieutenant General Epaphras Denga Ndaitwah, has said the Namibian boy child is falling behind the girl child in several spheres of life, prompting his office to take up the issue as a priority.

According to Namibia Press Agency, speaking during an engagement with boys at the UNAM campus in Katima Mulilo on Tuesday, Ndaitwah urged boys to remain in school and expressed concern over the high number of school dropouts among boys in recent years. He revealed that more than 8,000 boys dropped out of school countrywide in 2023. Ndaitwah lamented the loss of potential engineers and doctors among these dropouts, questioning the paths they chose after leaving school.

Ndaitwah emphasized the crucial role of education, reminding the audience that many senior citizens did not have the opportunity to study due to the liberation struggle and adverse conditions. He highlighted recent graduation statistics from leading tertiary institutions, noting that 64.6 per cent of recent graduates at the University of Namibia were women, compared to 35.4 per cent men. Similarly, at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, women accounted for 60 per cent of graduates, while men accounted for 40 per cent. Among 13 doctors who recently graduated, only three were boys.

Expressing concern over enrolment and graduation trends, Ndaitwah pointed out that although boys often register in higher numbers, fewer of them graduate. He partly attributed this trend to the lack of role models for boys, citing the absence of many fathers in fulfilling their responsibilities.

Ndaitwah also addressed the issue of mental health, noting the alarming statistic that over 80 per cent of suicides recorded in the country are committed by men. He emphasized the importance of raising the boy child responsibly and respectfully, and equipping them emotionally to become productive members of society.

Despite not having a dedicated functional budget, Ndaitwah assured that his office would continue to engage boys through outreach programs. He also mentioned plans to establish a foundation aimed at addressing some of the challenges faced by boys.