Windhoek: Omuthiya Constituency councillor Erastus Nekomba has praised the Namibian government for its continued commitment to ensuring access to education for all children, describing education as a fundamental tool for equality and national development.According to Namibia Press Agency, Nekomba spoke during the Omuthiya Circuit Enhancement and Awards Ceremony held at Onashikuvu Combined School. He highlighted the government's significant strides in making education accessible through policies and programmes aimed at improving literacy and academic achievement.The ceremony, which coincided with the commemoration of the Day of the African Child, recognised schools that demonstrated academic improvement and outstanding performance within the Omuthiya Circuit. The circuit comprises 36 schools in the Oshikoto Region.Nekomba emphasized the importance of education as the cornerstone of progress and the key to equality. He noted that initiatives outlined in the Swapo Party manifesto, the sixth National Develo pment Plan (NDP6), and various Ministry of Education programmes have contributed to making education free and accessible to every Namibian child.He stressed that ensuring every child becomes literate is a shared responsibility among government, educators, parents, and communities. 'Education is the key to unlocking opportunity, and we must embrace it wholeheartedly. Teachers play their role, parents lay their desires, and learners must bring their part,' he said.Addressing learners directly, Nekomba encouraged them to remain committed to their studies and draw inspiration from those who have excelled academically. He urged them to focus on their education unapologetically and ensure that their parents, teachers, and community are proud of their achievements.Deputy Director for Programmes and Quality Assurance in the Oshikoto Directorate of Education, Tomas Kalimbo, also spoke at the event. He noted that the Omuthiya circuit ranked fifth in the region in the 2025 NSSCO examinations, with 41.5 per cent of learners qualifying for Advanced Subsidiary studies. Despite a drop from third place in 2024, Kalimbo acknowledged the achievement and encouraged schools to work harder to improve performance across all grades as they focus on the remainder of the 2026 academic year.