Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Otunganga education circuit in the Ohangwena Region is in need of around 40 classrooms and six hostels to accommodate learners whose numbers is ever increasing.
Circuit Inspector Chrispin Masule said that his area of jurisdiction is experiencing a serious classroom shortage.
The circuit had 11 800 learners last year, but the figure for this year is much higher.
There are now 29 schools in the Otunganga circuit after two new schools were added this year.
According to him, the schools with a critical need for classrooms are T.S. Nepunda which needs 8 classrooms due to increased enrollment and a new grade (Grade 10) that was added this year.
The Otunganga Combined School, which now has 1 016 learners, needs 10 classrooms, while the Kauluma CS is still relying on old classrooms that were donated by a church and currently in dilapidated condition which is not conducive for teaching and learning.
The prefabricated classrooms at the Uukelo CS are also in a state of disrepair.
According to Masule, the school needs at least six new classrooms.
“Atuheyamwe JPS is a newly established school with no permanent classrooms and in need of 4 classrooms, while Shafoixuna PS needs 4 classrooms for the senior primary phase,” he added.
Masule said the classrooms are needed urgently but the budget that was allocated cannot satisfy those needs.
Meanwhile, the combined schools at Onankali North, Oshaango, Onanona, Omakondo, Onamukulo and TS. Nepunda, are all in need hostels.
“The schools need hostels due to Grade 10 learners. These learners are not all necessary from the areas where those schools are situated,” said Masule who also indicated that some of the learners are residing at schools with no proper shelters and no meals.
He noted that that type of situation affects the learners’ performance in the NSSCO examination.
Minister of Education Anna Nghipondoka, who was recently asking for the approval of the ministry’s proposed N$16.8 billion budget allocation in parliament, said that the development budget allocation of N$577 million represents 3.5% of the total budget allotted to the Ministry and will primarily cover ongoing commitments, particularly on education physical facility rehabilitation and construction.
Nghipondoka noted that the overcrowding in some classrooms across the nation, particularly in urban areas, must be addressed at least by the end of the second quarter of the 2023 academic year.
She emphasized that the goal is to make sure the ministry has enough classroom area to support the steadily increasing number of their learners.
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