Khomas schools face placement crisis

More than 1 100 Khomas learners remained without school placements by March, with overcrowding pushing teacher-learner ratios to as high as 55 learners per teacher, according to the Khomas annual regional report for the 2025/26 financial year.

The report states that more than 300 Grade 1 learners and over 805 Grade 8 learners remained unplaced by March.

The affected learners were concentrated in Tobias Hainyeko, Katutura Central, Samora Machel, Moses Garoeb and Khomasdal constituencies. “Khomas region continues to face the problem of overcrowding in our primary and secondary schools while parents stand in long queues to secure a place for their children in school,” the report states.

The placement challenge comes as the region continues to experience rapid urbanisation. According to the 2023 national census, Khomas has a population of 494 605, making it Namibia's most populous region.

The report says rapid urbanisation has resulted in increasing demand for housing, education, healthcare, water, sanitation, transport infrastructure and other essential public services.

Despite the pressure on schools, Khomas improved its academic performance in the 2025 ordinary and advanced subsidiary-level examinations.

The region moved from eighth to fourth position nationally in the ordinary level ranking, while its AS level ranking improved from 10th to ninth.

“This remarkable leap is a collective triumph of our learners, teachers, parents, and schools, achieved despite overcrowded classrooms and limited resources,” the report states.

New schools

The report says 10 basic education capital projects are currently under construction in Khomas, with a combined value of more than N$200 million.

These include Michelle McLean Primary School, Green Leaves Primary School, Dr Frans Aupa Indongo Primary School, Hillside Primary School, Van Rhyn Primary School and Pionierspark Primary School. New primary schools are also under construction at Mix Settlement, Goreangab and Otjomuise.

An alternative site for another primary school in Otjomuise was allocated in January, with construction expected to proceed. Five new basic education projects valued at N$153 million are under procurement for the 2026/27 financial year.

These include a new primary school at Havana valued at N$75 million, new schools at Okahandja Park and Klein Kuppe valued at N$26 million each, and a new special school in Windhoek valued at N$17 million.

Additional classrooms and infrastructure at Tobias Hainyeko Primary School, Rocky Crest, Hillside, Moses Garoeb, Suiderhof and Khomastura Secondary Schools are valued at N$9 million.

The Khomas Regional Council has also invested in school infrastructure. Smart boards were installed at Abraham Iyambo Primary, Hage Geingob High and Havana High schools at a cost of more than N$400 000. Council also spent more than N$500 000 on ablution facilities at Eros Primary School and more than N$140 000 on classroom renovations at St Barnabas Primary School.

School furniture worth N$300 000 was provided to Havana High School, Moses Garoeb Primary School and Monte Christo Primary School.

Support for learners

The council assisted 126 Namibian College of Open Learning (Namcol) students to upgrade their Grade 11 and 12 results at a cost of more than N$155 000. It also supported 55 students at accredited tertiary institutions with combined registration fees of N$230 000.

Under the back-to-school programme, N$500 000 was allocated for the 2025/26 financial year, benefiting approximately 320 learners from schools across all constituencies with uniforms and stationery. The Office of the Governor settled outstanding fees for 23 students across various institutions, worth around N$310 000.

It also secured scholarships for 10 Khomas students to study at the Tulipohamba Training Institute in occupational health and safety, healthcare services and counselling.

The report says construction of Phase 3 of the National School of Medicine at the Hage Geingob Campus is ongoing at a total project cost of N$515 million. The construction of the Students' Village in Windhoek is at the documentation stage, with the conceptual design approved.

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