Cecilia Iyambo

To decongest schools in the Kavango East region, the education directorate has resolved to construct a new primary school at Ndiyona circuit, a settlement some 100 kilometres east of Rundu. 

The primary school is part of a cohort of schools to be constructed throughout the region during the current financial year.

During a teachers’ conference at the settlement recently, regional education director Christine Shilima stated that the education ministry has spent close to N$50 million on education infrastructure to address the shortage of classrooms at schools in the region.

She noted that five new schools were constructed in Rundu the circuit during the 2023/24 financial year at a cost of about N$29 million. 

This was to address the need for classrooms, which led to learners being taught in tents last year.

“We cannot have a situation where a teacher teaches 50 learners in a class. We are evaluating the number of learners in the circuit, and calculating the teachers. We’ll only extend to 40 learners per class,” she said.

Kavango East region has over 79 000 learners, of whom 11% are from Ndiyona circuit. 

Shilima said the new project school will be completed in phases. 

Another set of classrooms will be constructed during the second phase. 

Ndiyona settlement headman Paulus Lipayi welcomed the development. 

He said overcrowded classrooms are a challenge for teachers in providing quality education. 

The headman further stated that the development would create employment opportunities for his community. 

Learners will no longer have to walk long distances to access educational facilities.

Over the years, the region has been challenged with a lack of space for school placement, overcrowding and proper school infrastructure.

*Cecilia Iyambo is an information officer with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology.