EPEMBE – The Minister of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sport, Arts and Culture, Sanet Steenkamp, has handed over 20 new classrooms as well as a new storeroom to five schools in the Ohangwena region yesterday, worth N$8 million.

This N$8 million project in Ohangwena is part of a broader, deliberate, and strategic national effort to expand education infrastructure, eliminate overcrowding, and ensure that every learner can learn in a dignified and supportive environment.

Speaking during the official opening of four new classrooms at Shakela Shimbwa Junior Primary School, Steenkamp said the government remains committed to improving classrooms and ensuring quality teaching. The minister stressed that the handovers were done at Shakela Shimbwa Junior Primary School, Ohamalila Primary School, Mateus Nakatumbe Primary School, Ohamaala Primary School, and Festus Ikanda Primary School, reflecting the government’s commitment to bringing services to rural communities.

“These schools now offer Pre-Primary to Grade 2 or 3, with 474 learners enrolled, supported by 17 teachers and 5 support staff,” she said. She added that this is a deliberate effort to ensure that children in their formative years have access to learning environments that are safe, inclusive, and stimulating, which is critical to addressing learning poverty from the earliest stages.

“We recognise the early years as the most critical for cognitive, social, and emotional development. Ensuring that children have access to quality education infrastructure, trained teachers, and supportive caregivers is a national responsibility,” she said.

She further emphasised that education is the basis of national development. The minister honoured teachers who are working in remote areas to ensure that teaching and learning take place, especially those who use roads in poor condition. She urged parents to respect teachers, to be united, and to see how best they can assist learners. Steenkamp, who worked in the Ohangwena region for eight years, from deputy director to director, said her office will collaborate with the ministry of transport to improve access roads to schools. “Access roads to schools are a major challenge faced by our teachers working in remote areas, but they are committed to delivering quality education,” she said. The minister also thanked parents who have united to build temporary classroom structures so that children can attend classes.

Also speaking at the occasion, deputy director Palisha Ngulu told the minister that the lack of classrooms remains a challenge in the region. “We have many schools that use shack structures as classrooms. However, we thank our government for continuing to construct classrooms and improve roads,” she said. She added that most schools in Ohangwena now have electricity.

Shakela Shimbwa Junior Primary School has 93 learners and three teachers. It opened in 2024 with new classrooms, but before then, learners were taught in temporary structures built by parents. It is situated in Ombaba village, Epembe constituency, in the Ohangwena region. -fhamalwa@nepc.com.na