Walvis Bay
A persistent shortage of classroom space for Grade 1 learners is still troubling primary schools at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. Walvis Bay currently has seven government-run primary schools. However, the placement of Grade 1 learners has been a chronic headache over the years.
According to figures availed to New Era yesterday, about 1 228 Grade 1 learners need to be accommodated, of which only 608 learners had already secured space last year. About 735 prospective learners were placed on the waiting list, of which 245 have not been placed.
The rest of the learners are required to report to the various primary schools, as communicated to them by the ministry. Some hopeful parents yesterday flooded the Walvis Bay Education Circuit office, hoping to secure a place at school for their children.
Inspector of the Walvis Bay education circuit Monica Gawises yesterday morning told New Era that there are still many Grade 1 learners that have not yet been placed at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. “However, the real situation will only be known once the schools start on Monday so we can see how many of the learners placed turn up at primary schools,” she said. According to her, the parents of such learners were already contacted to confirm whether their children would take up the places offered.
“Many of the calls were not answered and we will only know how much space is still available by Wednesday and how we would accommodate those on the waiting list,” she explained. She added that the learner-intake for Walvis Bay has dramatically increased this year, “meaning that we are back in the same situation that we face every year when it comes to the enrolment of Grade 1 learners.” She noted that two schools in Walvis Bay and Kuisebmond have already been identified to host afternoon classes, while two extra classes were acquired from a local church to accommodate more learners.
Walvis Bay Municipality indicated late last year that the population of the town population is expected to grow to around 180 000 by the year 2030 if its current growth trajectory of 4.7 percent is sustained.
The planned transformation of Walvis Bay into an industrial hub means the town would need to build at least 33 new primary schools and eight secondary schools by 2030.