KEETMANSHOOP – The ||Kharas Region Science Fair concluded on Friday with Oranjemund Private School and Suiderlig Secondary School taking top honors as the best primary and secondary schools, respectively. The event, which began on Wednesday, showcased 77 innovative projects by students aiming to advance local science initiatives.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Vilho Ashipala from Suiderlig Secondary School emerged as the overall winner, earning a laptop for his electronic passport project designed for health facilities. Ashipala’s invention addresses the inefficiencies of paper-based health passports, which are easily lost, by storing patient data electronically for quick and secure access at health facilities. His project also won the top prize in the senior secondary category.

Other notable winners included Joseph Markowitz from Oranjemund Private School, who won the Junior Primary overall category, and Albertina Shaanika from Ambrorius Hamutenya Primary School along with Joy Linane from Oranjemund Private School, who jointly took the senior primary top prize. Aiyana Abed from P.K. De Villiers was recognized as the best overall junior secondary winner.

The science fair’s chief judge, Connie Willemse, spoke highly of this year’s entries, noting a significant improvement in the quality and innovation of the projects, which included potential industry applications and advanced topics such as artificial intelligence. Willemse emphasized the region’s commitment to STEM education and the development of 21st-century skills among students.

The event also selected 12 learners to represent the ||Kharas Region at the national science fair scheduled for September in Windhoek.