Hunt for school places continues

EDUCATION authorities in several regions spent much of yesterday in meetings, as the search for schools by hundreds of learners continued.

Last year’s Grade 10 students in the North and in the capital continued to feel the classroom squeeze for Grade 11 places. About 2 100 part-time candidates qualified for admission to full-time Grade 11 this year, but many school principals showed them the door because of a lack of places.”We have no place for Namcol (Namibia College of Open Learning) learners in our region,” said Ondangwa West Regional Director, Dutte Shinyemba.She said the Oshana Region had 1 951 Grade 11 applicants and managed to place 1 544 in five secondary schools.Shinyemba said a further 363 students were referred to schools in the Omusati Region and 44 full-time candidates remained on the waiting list.She said because of a lack of classrooms, Namcol students were not being considered.Last year, her region was able to absorb up to 300 former Namcol students.She cited a lack of adequate classrooms and hostel accommodation as the main reason for the failure to get placements.In Windhoek, MH Greeff enrolled up to 40 students per classroom instead of the recommended 30 to 35.Acting Principal, Anne Basson, said they had a unique situation where the English classroom for Grade Ones has 46 learners.”We have gone over the limit by an average of 10 learners per classroom and have to turn a lot of parents and their children away,” she said.In Katutura, the Theo Katjimuine and Tobias Hainyeko primary schools said key classes were full.Tobias Hainyeko Principal, Festus Ekandjo, said there was no room for Grades One, Two, Four, Six and Seven.While the schools in central and northern Namibia pushed learners away, the South wants more.Regional Educational Director for Keetmanshoop, August Mungunda, said although it was “a mad house”, the situation was under control.He said all Grade 11s were placed and the five secondary schools had places left.PK de Villiers High School at Keetmanshoop reported that it was full to capacity.About 2 100 part-time candidates qualified for admission to full-time Grade 11 this year, but many school principals showed them the door because of a lack of places. “We have no place for Namcol (Namibia College of Open Learning) learners in our region,” said Ondangwa West Regional Director, Dutte Shinyemba. She said the Oshana Region had 1 951 Grade 11 applicants and managed to place 1 544 in five secondary schools. Shinyemba said a further 363 students were referred to schools in the Omusati Region and 44 full-time candidates remained on the waiting list. She said because of a lack of classrooms, Namcol students were not being considered. Last year, her region was able to absorb up to 300 former Namcol students. She cited a lack of adequate classrooms and hostel accommodation as the main reason for the failure to get placements. In Windhoek, MH Greeff enrolled up to 40 students per classroom instead of the recommended 30 to 35. Acting Principal, Anne Basson, said they had a unique situation where the English classroom for Grade Ones has 46 learners. “We have gone over the limit by an average of 10 learners per classroom and have to turn a lot of parents and their children away,” she said. In Katutura, the Theo Katjimuine and Tobias Hainyeko primary schools said key classes were full. Tobias Hainyeko Principal, Festus Ekandjo, said there was no room for Grades One, Two, Four, Six and Seven. While the schools in central and northern Namibia pushed learners away, the South wants more. Regional Educational Director for Keetmanshoop, August Mungunda, said although it was “a mad house”, the situation was under control. He said all Grade 11s were placed and the five secondary schools had places left. PK de Villiers High School at Keetmanshoop reported that it was full to capacity.