Gender ministry reintegrates 425 street children into schools

The gender ministry said 425 children who had been living and working on the streets were reintegrated into schools ahead of the 2025 academic year.The announcement was made during a three-day workshop in Windhoek on the National Strategy for Children Living and Working on the Streets.By the time of the workshop, only two of Namibia’s 14 regions had recorded measurable progress. In Hardap, the Back-to-School Project placed 145 children into nine schools in Mariental. In Khomas, the After School Centre Programme reintegrated 280 children, most of whom were enrolled in boarding schools outside Windhoek.Business unusualThe ministry described its approach as “business unusual,” saying each trained region was expected to design its action plan instead of relying on a blanket national model.To support retention, the gender ministry, in partnership with the education ministry, provided psychosocial services, uniforms, stationery, toiletries, and transportation. The ministry said the teachers were initially hesitant but later adjusted. “They soon recognised that these were children like any other learners, with the only difference being more critical social circumstances,” the ministry further said.Evidence from Mariental suggested that the model was working effectively, with most of the children placed since 2022 still in school; three had progressed to Grade 11, and one was enrolled in AS Level this year.Despite the gains, the gender ministry acknowledged that challenges persisted, including limited budgets, staff shortages, and a heavy reliance on community volunteers who receive no stipends. While Khomas and Hardap led the way, other regions such as Omaheke were still finalising their plans.Rehabilitation centreLooking ahead, the ministry is committed to opening a rehabilitation centre at Farm Kaukurus in 2026, with boys expected to start in February and girls in April. Each intake was set to undergo a 12-week rehabilitation and therapeutic programme.Meanwhile, a national study scheduled for 2025/26 was expected to investigate the root causes that led children into street life in Erongo, Khomas, Kavango East, and Omaheke. Factors already identified included poverty, family breakdown, substance abuse, neglect, lack of transport and bullying.The ministry acknowledged that scaling up nationwide would require more resources, more substantial involvement of local authorities, and urgent measures to prevent children from slipping back onto the streets.

Gender ministry reintegrates 425 street children into schools

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-21

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Gender ministry reintegrates 425 street children into schools

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Namibian Sun 2025-08-21

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