New private school opens at Walvis Bay

Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes says the opening of Walvis Bay Gymnasium private school has great significance for the local community, especially while Namibia is challenged with regards to acadmic performance and overcrowding at schools.

Forbes was speaking at the opening of the school yesterday.

The school was the brainchild of Curro Namibia managing director Colette Riekert, who says she received a vision from God in 2003 to positively impact education in Namibia.

She started with Windhoek Gymnasium on 17 January 2007 with 240 pupils.

This has since expanded to 700 pupils in 2008, 1 100 in 2009, and 1 500 in 2010.

The school currently has 2 300 pupils.

This has led to the vision of expanding to the rest of Namibia, starting with the Oshana region and Walvis Bay.
The two new schools have been built at a total cost of N$240 million.

The Oshana school will be completed soon.

All schools are operated by the Curro Gymnasium Schools Company through Curro Education Namibia.

Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes yesterday said he was proud of the speed at which the school was built.

“Six months ago, I was at the groundbreaking ceremony. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the incredible efficiency with which this project was executed, and to the dedication and hard work of all those involved.

“The establishment of an institution such as the Gymnasium school represents a beacon of hope and opportunity for our youth,” he said.

Riekert said: “I could not be satisfied with the one centre of excellence which was established. We had to expand to bring this quality education to more Namibian children.

“These pupils have the privilege to be part of the pioneers of this school. I am confident that, just as in the case of Windhoek Gymnasium, the numbers will soon increase rapidly as many more parents will realise the value of the offering of Walvis Bay Gymnasium.”

Walvis Bay circuit inspector Theresia Goagoses applauded the company’s contribution to providing Namibian pupils quality education.

“Our president declared 2024 as the year of expectation. I would like to thank the director for her creativity. You have created a new world-class school for the Namibian child.

“Thank you for meeting the government halfway. The goal of everybody is to reach success. For that, creativity, sensitivity and innovation are needed,” she said.

The school, with 350 pupils, consists of a pre-school and high school block.

It will soon have the first Global International Polytan Hockey field in Africa, four netball courts with two doubling up as basketball courts and two as tennis courts, as well as volleyball courts.

A rugby/soccer field with a cricket pitch and a grass athletics track will be completed in April, while a school hall and administration block may be completed by June.

The next sport facilities and a primary school block will be completed thereafter.