500 new schools in the pipeline

More than 500 new schools are set to be built and classrooms expanded across Namibia under an ambitious government programme aimed at tackling overcrowding and improving access to quality education.

Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare announced the initiative last Friday while inaugurating 12 new classrooms at Ngcove Primary School in Rundu.

The Ngcove project stemmed from a government visit to the school on 25 September 2025, when teachers and learners raised concerns over overcrowding and inadequate classroom space.

"The principal and the school's founder explained the difficult conditions they had endured and appealed to government to hear their concerns," Ngurare said.

"The listening government has delivered, and that is why we are here today," he said.

Ngurare said the Ngcove upgrade forms part of the education ministry's nationwide school decongestion programme aimed at addressing growing learner enrolment and pressure on education infrastructure.

"There are many other schools under the ministry's decongestion programme, and about 500 schools are going to be constructed across the country," he said.

"I have seen the progress reports. Some companies have completed their projects, while others are struggling," he added.

The prime minister commended August 26 Construction for completing the Ngcove classrooms on schedule after being appointed by the ministry in consultation with local leadership.

The classrooms replace makeshift structures that had long served as learning spaces at the primary school, which primarily serves learners from the marginalised San community.

Local opportunities

Ngurare urged the private sector to take advantage of opportunities under the programme, stressing that government contracts are not reserved exclusively for state-owned enterprises.

He said the private sector "must not feel that we are only supporting government companies. There are opportunities for the private sector to participate".

Ngurare also announced that procurement units across government have been directed to prioritise purchasing locally manufactured furniture for schools and other public institutions as part of efforts to stimulate domestic industries and create jobs.

"We want to see the chairs in these classrooms being manufactured locally so that they create employment opportunities for our people," he said.

Ngurare said continued reliance on imported furniture was creating jobs abroad instead of supporting Namibia's economy, adding that government procurement should help drive local industrial growth.