Omusati education directorate cracks down on unregistered private schools
The Omusati region has seen a clampdown on unregistered private schools following a recent probe, with nine institutions ordered to shut their doors immediately.
Regional education director Paulus Kashiimbi cited the Education Act of 2020 in a November letter last year calling for the closure of these schools. “The directive was issued to all schools in the region reported or found to be operating without the proper registration,” Kashiimbi said in his letter.
The move is in line with the Education Act, which stipulates that all schools must be registered with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture. Furthermore, Section 76 requires that all private schools submit an annual report to the ministry, detailing their curriculum, teaching staff qualifications and other essential information.
The directive is in line with Section 79 of the Act, which empowers the ministry to monitor and regulate the quality of education provided by private schools.
The main reason given for shutting down these schools was that the institutions started operating without finalising the registration process.
One school involved is Liberty Heritage School. The school’s original campus in Ongwediva is registered at the ministry. However, the satellite campus in Okahao is allegedly not registered and was one of the schools ordered to shut down.
This school board letter laments the fact that parents already spent money on school supplies and other fees before the directive shut down the school for the 2025 academic year.
Parents expressed their frustration regarding the situation at Liberty Heritage School earlier this year. “We emphasise that Liberty Heritage School, although a satellite school, is fully registered up to Grade 12 and plays a vital role in meeting the high demand for education in Okahao.”
The parents appealed to the Ministry of Education to allow the campus in Okahao to continue operating for the year. In the meantime, they have collectively decided to keep their children at home, pending a response from the ministry.
My Zone attempted to reach education executive director Sanet Steenkamp for comment on the severity of the situation, but no response had been received by the time of going to print.
Regional education director Paulus Kashiimbi cited the Education Act of 2020 in a November letter last year calling for the closure of these schools. “The directive was issued to all schools in the region reported or found to be operating without the proper registration,” Kashiimbi said in his letter.
The move is in line with the Education Act, which stipulates that all schools must be registered with the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture. Furthermore, Section 76 requires that all private schools submit an annual report to the ministry, detailing their curriculum, teaching staff qualifications and other essential information.
The directive is in line with Section 79 of the Act, which empowers the ministry to monitor and regulate the quality of education provided by private schools.
The main reason given for shutting down these schools was that the institutions started operating without finalising the registration process.
One school involved is Liberty Heritage School. The school’s original campus in Ongwediva is registered at the ministry. However, the satellite campus in Okahao is allegedly not registered and was one of the schools ordered to shut down.
This school board letter laments the fact that parents already spent money on school supplies and other fees before the directive shut down the school for the 2025 academic year.
Parents expressed their frustration regarding the situation at Liberty Heritage School earlier this year. “We emphasise that Liberty Heritage School, although a satellite school, is fully registered up to Grade 12 and plays a vital role in meeting the high demand for education in Okahao.”
The parents appealed to the Ministry of Education to allow the campus in Okahao to continue operating for the year. In the meantime, they have collectively decided to keep their children at home, pending a response from the ministry.
My Zone attempted to reach education executive director Sanet Steenkamp for comment on the severity of the situation, but no response had been received by the time of going to print.
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