Classroom Shortages In Namibia Leaves Hundreds Out of School

The education ministry is struggling to place over 1 000 pupils in schools nationally due to rapid population growth and a shortage of classrooms.

This follows mounting frustration from parents, particularly in densely populated regions such as Khomas, where children remain at home three weeks into the academic year.

Speaking to Desert Radio yesterday, deputy executive director for schools and formal education Edda Bohn said while national figures are still being finalised, preliminary estimates from regions point to significant shortfalls.

“In Khomas, the figures are in the 300s for Grade 1 and in the 800s for Grade 8. We are hard at work and in consultation with school principals to open more classrooms,” she said.

Bohn said existing classrooms and facilities will be repurposed to expand access and create temporary space for pupils.

“We must also realise that in the week of February, the 15-school day statistics will be collated nationally and based on that, resources will be deployed . . . we can assure the nation that all pupils will receive access to education,” she said.

She said the backlog of classrooms is a recurring challenge.

The situation is especially pressing in the Khomas region, where there is a shortage of space for Grade 8s in high schools.

- Authors: Dolly Menas and Eliaser Ndeyanale, Nambian

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