Africa-Press – Namibia. SCORES of parents around the country were yesterday rushing from school to school in a desperate attempt to have their children enrolled for grades 1 and 8 for the 2022 school year.
Namibian schools will officially reopen on Monday. At some towns parents lined up since 07h00, with some schools already putting up notices saying they are full. The Namibian yesterday spoke to some frustrated parents at schools in Windhoek and at Walvis Bay.
Johanna Haukongo visited the People’s Primary School in the capital yesterday and was informed that the registration process would only commence once the school reopens. She fears her daughter may not be placed.
“The entire time we were in the north, because I thought I would register here when the holiday was over. Little did I know most people were gone, and there may not be space,” she said.
Rosa Aipinge was hoping to enroll her children at Flamingo Primary School at Walvis Bay. “With the economic crisis that was caused by Covid-19, I can no longer afford transport fees for them and myself. I need them to go to school near our home.
“One of my children failed because of Afrikaans. We do not speak Afrikaans at home. I need her to be here where they offer Oshiwambo as a subject,” she said.
Sharifa Auchas, also from Walvis Bay, says they were informed last year by the Erongo region’s education office that pupils from other regions could only register this year. Jason Paulus said it was a struggle to enrol his sister last year, which is why they waited for the year to end to register this year.
“She is at Narraville Primary School, but we are struggling with transport. We need to find a school in the location, but I have been running around all morning. The schools are full,” he said.
Another parent at the coastal town, who did not want to be named, said she has twins and wants them to attend the same school. “It would really be difficult to keep them at different schools, as I have to travel twice to the schools, and also attend different parent meetings,” she said.
HEADACHE FOR PRINCIPALS School principals yesterday said they have to turn parents away due to limited classroom space. “We had about 60 parents today. Most said the schools their children attend are far away, and they don’t have transport money. Others say the children’s parents are deceased and they are living with their grandparents.
“Some children are abused by family members and need to be sent to schools in other areas. Some schools have many Grade 1 pupils on their waiting lists,” said Flamingo Primary School principal Christina Gontes.
Tutaleni High School principal Vincent Gideon yesterday said: “Some people say they could not enrol their children for Grade 8, because they were at sea. Some have migrated to Walvis Bay in the middle of the year and want their children with them.
“Others had children living with their grandparents. We really feel sorry for them, but we do not have space.” UNIFORMS AND STATIONERY
The Namibian yesterday visited different retailers where parents lined up to buy their children uniforms and stationery for the new school year. Magdalena Tjehuia, a parent from Windhoek, says she roughly spends N$2 000 per term on her son’s school material.
“I invest in my child’s education, hence I always make sure to buy stationery on time,” she said. Some parents are, however, unable to afford stationery.
Hiliya Naluko’s child attends Tobias Hainyeko Primary School in Windoek, and says it is a relief not to pay school fees, but having to buy stationery is a burden.
“Whatever happened to the government helping out with stationery?” she asked. People’s Primary School principal Patrick Xoagub, however, believes children are their parents’ responsibility and not the government’s.
“The government will do its part, and the parents must do their part,” he said.
Xoagub said the school came up with an initiative through which parents contribute money voluntarily to help accommodate those who cannot afford stationery.
“The parents who have children at this school should be proud of contributing, because they are investing in their children’s education, not in the school,” he said.
He said he believes the schools parents invest in perform better. Xoagub said the People’s Primary School is normally in demand when it comes to registration, because it has a hostel.
“Late registrations at my school are accommodated. There is no discrimination against social status or race,” he said.
Goreangab Junior Secondary School principal Caroline Nafuka yesterday said her school has not received funding for stationery for the past two years. “The last time we got money for stationery from the government was two years ago,” she said.
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