MOST private schools in Windhoek have the same teacher-pupil ratio as the public sector institutions.
A snap survey carried out by showed that the teacher-pupil ratio in most private schools is one teacher to 27 pupils, instead of 1:15.
This is despite the fact that private schools charge not less than N$1 800 per month.
The Amazing Kids Private School and Academy has introduced a green card system, where pupils whose parents owe money are not allowed onto the premises.
In 2018, pupils in Grade 0 will be required to pay around N$2 800 for registration, and N$28 700 for tuition fees and miscellaneous expenses for the year.
According to the 2018 fee structure, Grade 1 to Grade 3 will pay around N$3 600 for registration, and N$3 270 per month for 11 months in tuition and miscellaneous fees.
Parents are also expected to part with another N$500 per month for homework supervision, and N$30 a day for lunch packs.
Grade 4 to Grade 7 will pay about N$4 000 for registration, and N$40 800 for annual tuition and miscellaneous expenses.
It will cost parents N$4 800 for the registration of their children in Grades 8 and 10, in addition to an annual tuition and miscellaneous fee of N$48 300.
Grades 11 and 12 pupils would need N$4 900 for registration, and then pay N$49 800 in tuition and miscellaneous fees for the year.
Parents who make use of the school’s transport will be charged an additional N$11 550.
A parent, who preferred anonymity, told that her son attended Amazing Kids from Grades 1 to 3.
“I was not happy. I felt that the intensity of teaching decreased, as they were focusing more on getting money.
“If you are putting your child in a private school, you need your child to get special attention,” the mother stressed.
Her son is in a class of 27, and she feels it is compromised as an average class in public schools has between 30 and 40 pupils.
Another parent said the school might have been on the right track when it started.
“This school is selling us dreams with Bible verses,” the parent said.
Apart from the “chasing money factor,” the parent said the teacher-pupil ratio in private schools is almost the same as that of public schools.
“The teacher-pupil ratio plays a significant role in education. This should not be the same,” the parent added.
Amazing Kidz recently introduced a green card system to show which pupil owed the school money. Only those with the green cards are allowed into the school.
One of the parents whose child was kept from the school said they should explore other ways, instead of punishing the child.
“They bar the child from the class. Why not wait until the end of the day? Why get the child during a lesson?
“Of course, the child will be psychologically affected. We know how young people are, especially teenagers. You cannot even trip over your feet at school without being laughed at. It is embarrassing for the child,” the parent stated.
A senior manager at the school said keeping the learner from class is the last resort.
“We tried to close the gates last year, and that did not work. Some parents have arrears from as far back as last year. How are we supposed to function as a school? How are we expected to provide quality education?” asked the senior manager, who requested not to be named.
“The economy is also biting private schools,” she continued.
The senior manager said parents use the Christianity factor of the school to judge them for the actions they take, but forget that Christian schools also need money.
