OPUWO: Miss Namibia 2012 Tsakana Nkandih says primary education is a very important aspect of the academic careers of children, as it lays the foundation of knowledge they later have to build on.

As such, primary education needs to be of the right quality, she said whilst addressing learners at the Opuwo Primary School in the Kunene Region on Thursday.

She told the 655 learners to put education first in all things they do, and to study hard.

“I have selected this school because I want it to be the best school,” said Nkandih, adding that she would assist the school to become one of the best public primary schools in the country through the support of her donors and sponsors.

“This is the first school I’m visiting after I was crowned Miss Namibia. I had to see to it that I support it where I can in order for it to shine,” she noted.

Nkandih went on to say that she wanted to “leave clear footprints which people can remember her by at the end of her term as Miss Namibia”.

The acting principal of the Opuwo Primary School, Sipora Ankama thanked the beauty queen for selecting this school, as well as for paying it a visit and donating a printer.

Ankama went on to inform her of the dilapidated classrooms which need renovation, and the situation with regards to orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs) attending the primary school.

“We have a number of OVCs here who sometimes come to school without food. Thanks to the school-feeding programme, we can give them thin maize meal porridge that is prepared here every school day,” she explained.

Nkandih also visited several classrooms and promised to talk to Neo Paints Namibia about having the Opuwo Primary School repainted in the near future.

Neo Paints is one of her sponsors, and the company has given her the option to select several schools in need of painting, which the company will then repaint.

Before the final competition, the Miss Namibia 2012 finalists already painted a school in the Kavango Region with the help of Neo Paints.

The Opuwo Primary School learners welcomed Miss Namibia with a battle cry known as ‘Ombimbi’, which is performed by men in a show of victory and bravery.

The battle cry used to be performed mostly after men had returned from a battle, or had succeeded in killing a lion or elephant.

The learners went on to entertain her with more traditional performances by the OvaZemba and Oshiwambo traditional groups, and concluded the visit by singing a song called “We are in Celebration”.

Nkandih returns to Windhoek on Friday.