OMUTHIYA – The new school year commences this week, with an anticipated 896 311 learners from pre-school to Grade 12 filling up classrooms.

The Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture’s executive director Sanet Steenkamp in an interview with Nampa on Monday said the 450 691 boys and 445 620 girls will be attending 2 036 schools countrywide.
“The ratio is 50.3% to 49.7%, meaning girls and boys have similar access to education,” she said.
The Ohangwena region has the highest learner population, with 125 685 students.

 Omusati has 112 943, and Khomas has 106 442 learners.

Steenkamp elaborated that there are currently 1 740 government schools and 296 private schools in Namibia.

At least 33 332 teachers are excited to welcome their learners to school on Monday, the executive director said.

Of the total number of learners, at least 55 000 are in pre-primary.

 More than 105 000 are Grade 1 learners.

The first semester for government schools started on Monday. -Nampa