OMUTHIYA – The Oshikoto education directorate has urged new and expectant teenagers to return to school in order to continue with schooling.

Education director Aletta Eises added learners finding any difficulty should seek assistance from the directorate to facilitate their enrolment. 
At least 276 learners fell pregnant last year in the region as many pupils remained home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Eises, the number of dropouts could be higher, but that can only be determined once the final compilation is done. 
A fortnight ago, education minister Anna Nghipondoka said 3 627 teenage pregnancies were recorded last year alone in all 14 regions, compared to 1 542 pupils who fell pregnant in 2019. 

The shocking statistics have been attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic after the global health crisis resulted in nationwide school closures. 
Describing the atmosphere since the start of the new academic year earlier this week, Eises said all was in place since teaching and learning began. 

She said about 90% of learners were enrolled last year, while the remainder is still being attended to until 15 February. 
In addition, she said, all schools opened their doors, with the exception of Onguti Senior Secondary School where some challenges were detected.  “People started resolving the problem and we expect learning to begin within the course of next week,” she added. As a mitigating factor in the hope of ensuring schools have all necessary precautionary measures in place in the fight against Covid-19, the director said schools in the region will receive personal protective equipment worth N$4.8 million. “When teachers started, they had to disinfect classrooms and ablution facilities to reduce the risk in case one tested positive. Therefore, all precautionary measures are being put in place and this is to back it up,” she added.
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