Erongo faces classroom shortage for 2026
Adam HartmanSwakopmund
The Erongo education directorate says 419 Grade 8 learners and 698 Grade 1 learners still need school placements for 2026, despite an ongoing registration process and plans for new infrastructure.Erongo education director Ernfriede Stephanus said the Grade 8 application process is complete, but school registration will continue until 31 August, when admitted learners are expected to be notified.
“Learners who have not received application forms from local schools are currently being captured on the system to determine the number who still need to be placed,” she said.
For Grade 1, 576 learners have been admitted and 848 pre-primary pupils will automatically move to Grade 1 at their current schools, bringing the total number placed to 1 424. This excludes potential repeaters.
Stephanus said the region has developed a three-year decongestion plan to address classroom shortages, which includes building more classrooms and expanding hostel facilities.
Hostels under construction in Omatjete and Tubisis are expected to increase capacity, while pending handovers of additional classrooms in Henties Bay and other areas are awaiting head office approval.
She said the benchmark cost for a donated classroom, including desks and chairs, is less than N$500 000, and more schools are needed in the region to meet demand.
“I believe the situation can be under control with possible interventions that need prior planning,” she said.
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The Erongo education directorate says 419 Grade 8 learners and 698 Grade 1 learners still need school placements for 2026, despite an ongoing registration process and plans for new infrastructure.Erongo education director Ernfriede Stephanus said the Grade 8 application process is complete, but school registration will continue until 31 August, when admitted learners are expected to be notified.
“Learners who have not received application forms from local schools are currently being captured on the system to determine the number who still need to be placed,” she said.
For Grade 1, 576 learners have been admitted and 848 pre-primary pupils will automatically move to Grade 1 at their current schools, bringing the total number placed to 1 424. This excludes potential repeaters.
Stephanus said the region has developed a three-year decongestion plan to address classroom shortages, which includes building more classrooms and expanding hostel facilities.
Hostels under construction in Omatjete and Tubisis are expected to increase capacity, while pending handovers of additional classrooms in Henties Bay and other areas are awaiting head office approval.
She said the benchmark cost for a donated classroom, including desks and chairs, is less than N$500 000, and more schools are needed in the region to meet demand.
“I believe the situation can be under control with possible interventions that need prior planning,” she said.
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