Africa-Press – Namibia. SOME 353 classrooms are needed in Erongo, Zambezi and //Kharas regions, while 700 pupils are still to be placed in the Omusati region.
Zambezi regional education director Josty Kawana said they need about 246 additional classrooms to address the shortage of infrastructure in the region.
• ESTER MBATHERA,
HILENI NEMBWAYA and
LUGERETZIA KOOPER
Kawana said classroom shortages are rife, with Bukalo, Chinchimani, Katima Mulilo, Ngoma and Sibbinda needing 10, 44, 87, 17 and 88, respectively.
“As you can see, the majority of classroom shortages are experienced in the rural areas. At the moment, all pupils are placed in overcrowded classrooms,” he said.
Erongo regional education director Erenfriede Stephanus says while they need about 36 additional classrooms, they are also worried by the number of parents still waiting to place their children in the education system.
“The need for classrooms will always be there, but we advertised [for] 12 classrooms. The bids closed last week. A further 24 classrooms are earmarked for school projects at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund where the directorate secured land.
The site handover will be done early next month,” Stephanus said.
Stephanus added that a new hostel was constructed at Tubusis. Erongo region has a pupil population of about 50 000.
Earlier in the week, The Namibian reported that //Kharas region is facing a shortage of 71 classrooms in both primary and secondary schools.
Meanwhile, Omusati region is struggling to place 754 pupils into the system because of either the unavailability of places or classes.
The region is also facing a shortage of desks and classrooms, forcing teachers to accommodate more than 45 pupils per classroom.
Omusati education director Benny Eiseb described their situation as dire.
“The issue of classroom shortage has been and is still a challenge that we are faced with. Omusati region is one of the biggest regions in the country, with a high population. Thus, the issue of classroom shortages is likely to persist every year. We are going to have a meeting with education inspectors and principals to see how we can overcome this challenge. We must do something to ensure that every pupil is accommodated in school,” he said.
Eiseb said in Onesi circuit, 75 pupils have not yet been placed in school while Oshikuku has 90 pupils, Okalongo (76), Anamulenge (97), Etayi (131) and Outapi (288).
“Education is the constitutional right of every pupil out there and we, as the directorate, must ensure that we provide quality education to all pupils. We have communicated all our challenges to the ministry and we are just waiting for feedback. We hope our challenges will be met at least halfway because our pupils are suffering,” said Eiseb.
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