Hundreds of learners hoping to start primary or high school in the Oshana region have not yet found a place as education authorities work around the clock to find available spaces. 

Oshana’s education deputy director Hilma Nuunyango-George has revealed that placement for pre-primary, Grade 1 and Grade 8 is a challenge in the region. 

 “Grade 1 admission is a challenge, especially in the three towns of Ondangwa, Ongwediva and Oshakati,” she said.

On Friday, they still had a number of learners not yet admitted into pre-primary and Grades 1 and 8. 

“We are assuring parents that as a region, we are working around the clock to ensure that all learners would have secured spaces by Friday, 14 January 2022,” Nuunyango- George noted.

 With the schools reopening today, more parents have been flocking to different schools since last week in search of places for their children. 

Over the years, parents whose children need places for Grade 1 normally endure harsh conditions such as the cold weather in the morning as well as rain as they spend sleepless nights on school grounds with the hope of getting a place first for their children. 

Speaking to New Era on Friday, a teacher at Ehenye Primary School in the Oshana region confirmed on condition of anonymity that Grade 1 classes are full. 

“We have already enrolled the Grade 1s for 2022. There are still about 300 learners who need to be placed. 

These numbers are, however, subject to change once the schools commence, and a physical headcount of learners can establish how many places would have become available,” the teacher said. 

She attributed the high number of learners needing space to parents who may have applied for placement at various schools, and in so doing, leading to the statistics not giving an accurate picture. 

The exact number of learners who are enrolled will only be known after the 15th day of the 2022 academic year.

 “This is so because schools will then have stable enrolment statistics since not all learners report for school on the first day due to various reasons such as transport arrangements from their places of origin,” she explained.

Furthermore, the scramble for Grade 1 places is brought about by parents who normally move with their families from one town to another due to various reasons, including job opportunities. 

“There are so many parents who have moved to different towns due to various factors, and their children need places. Hence, there will be those parents who will be queuing up and looking for placement for their children because when we started the enrolment, their children were not registered,” she added. -vkaapanda@nepc.com.na