With schools starting today, parents have rushed to shops to purchase school uniforms, books and stationery, which their children require for the beginning of the 2022 academic year.

As usual, Pep, Shoprite, Jet and Waltons stores in Oshakati were packed to the brim with parents and learners who were making sure that all the necessary items are bought and everyone is set for a smooth beginning of the first semester.
According to the line ministry’s school calendar, classes resume today and end on 10 June this year.

The queue at Waltons snaked several metres outside the shop as customers waited patiently in the scorching sun for their turn to buy the necessary goods.

Maria Shigwedha from Ogongo in the Omusati region was standing in line, and said she has been there for more than an hour, but did not get help.

“I am not satisfied with what government schools are doing. They are sending long lists of stationery, but we don’t have enough money to buy all of that,” she lamented.

She further complained about the money she spends on transport to come to town since the nearest shops don’t have all the stationeries requested by the school.

“There is no difference between government and private schools. It is better to go back to the old system, to start paying school fees,” Shigwedha observed.

School fees were abolished at both government primary schools in 2013 and secondary schools in 2016.

- vkapaanda@nepc.com.na