93 learners in a class

Less than a week into the new school year, Rundu's Ndama Combined School is facing multiple challenges related to overcrowding. In one Grade 6 class there are 93 learners, most of whom have to stand for hours because of a lack of furniture and even sitting space on the floor. According to the school's principal Fillipine Munkanda, Ndama Combined School this year registered 2 652 learners, which is 304 more than last year. Munkanda said the average number of learners per classroom stands at 75, which is more than double the education ministry's staffing norm of one teacher per 30 pupils. In the classrooms where learners have to stand the entire school day, the limited space also restricts teachers' movement around the room. Some of the teachers spoken to said they were used to such conditions. “Welcome to Ndama Combined School; we are used to this situation,” one teacher said jokingly. Last year Namibian Sun also visited the school after parents complained about the situation there. At the time it was reported that there were 114 learners in one classroom. When asked why the classrooms were so overcrowded, Munkanda explained that two classes had to be combined to free up a classroom because the number of learners from the feeder schools had increased. Ndama Combined School has two feeder schools: Rundu Senior Primary School and Ndama Junior Primary School. “The number of learners has increased as we have to accommodate the learners from the feeder schools,” Munkanda said. Munkanda added that although the school had decided not to register learners from other schools this year, the demand for placement remained high. The school has also adopted a platoon system for grade four and five pupils. Some of the learners attend classes from 07:00 to 11:00 and the others are taught from 12:00 to 16:00. Munkanda said her teachers remained committed to providing children with quality education.But she emphasised that more classrooms must be built urgently. “We know about our challenges yet we are not deterred in carrying out our mandate,” she said. Last year the school achieved a 70% pass rate, which included an 81% pass rate in the grade nine national examination. When contacted for comment, Kavango East Region education director Fanuel Kapapero told Namibian Sun that the ministry planned to build a new school to ease the pressure on Ndama and other schools faced with the same problem.Kapapero said the plan was to construct another primary school which would take over some of the grade four to seven classes from Ndama Combined School.KENYA KAMBOWE

93 learners in a class

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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93 learners in a class

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Namibian Sun 2025-06-19

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