WALVIS BAY – At least 143 grade 1 learners will not be accommodated at Walvis Bay schools due to a shortage of space. The placement of grade 1 learners has become an annual challenge, where parents and teachers have been lobbying for new schools to accommodate learners.
According to the Walvis Bay circuit inspector, Monica Gawises, they initially had 431 learners on the waiting list for grade 1 at the town.
“However, some of the schools, such as Kuiseb Primary School, Immanuel Ruiters and !Nara primary schools, accommodated some of the learners; hence, we only have 143 who need to be placed,” she said.
She added her office is inundated daily with parents who are enquiring about space for their children.
“We have also only placed learners of such parents and we do not place children if their parents do not do follow-ups,” she said.
She appealed to parents and guardians to do the enrolments as early as possible to avoid such challenges.
“I had to send more than 300 parents away, as they came way too late while enrolment is usually announced during May,” she said.
Gawises also explained they have 90 grade 8 learners on their waiting list.
“Apart from that, all our schools at the town are ready to start the new school year today, apart from JP Brandt at Utuseb. This is due to renovation of the school’s hostel that is currently ongoing,” she said.
She added 90% of the learners are accommodated in the hostel; hence, it did not make sense to open the school when learners do not have accommodation.
Alternatives
Meanwhile, education director for Erongo Erenfriede Stephanus yesterday said the they are looking at an alternative venue to accommodate the 143 learners.
“I am meeting with Gawises today (yesterday) to look at our options, as some of the venues are too pricy,” she said.
She added this will be a temporary arrangement, as they are currently constructing classrooms that will be completed by April this year.
“Then we will be able to move all the learners back to the respective schools,” she said.
– edeklerk@nepc.com.na