Rundu's land approval delays new schools
Efforts to address the education crisis in Rundu are being hampered by delays in land allocation, according to Kavango East regional director of education, Christine Shilima.
The region urgently requires two plots of land to construct new schools and reduce overcrowding. However, the local authority has yet to approve the land requests.
“We submitted a letter to the town council requesting the allocation of two plots—one in Satotwa and another south of Ngcove Junior Primary School—based on community recommendations for potential school sites,” Shilima explained during a recent meeting with school principals in Rundu.
“The directorate is ready, and principals for these schools have already been appointed. But without land allocation, we cannot move forward. This prevents us from addressing the overcrowding problem at Ruben Makaranga, Sauyemwa, and Ndama Junior Primary schools. My hands are tied,” she added.
Shilima emphasized that approval from the town council is crucial for the construction of new schools to alleviate overcrowded classrooms in the region.
Broader Challenges
The challenges in Rundu extend beyond land shortages. Shilima revealed that the region requires over 4,000 desks and chairs, along with 50 tents, to address the current lack of resources and mitigate overcrowding.
“In the meantime, school board chairpersons are encouraged to allocate funds for repairing broken desks and chairs. I am grateful to the principals who have already taken this initiative and urge others to follow suit,” she said.
Ongoing Measures
Shilima also highlighted steps being taken to ease the burden on schools, including separating the secondary phase at Sikanduko Combined School.
“At Sikanduko, we have separated the secondary phase and established a new secondary school to accommodate learners from Ndama South Primary School. Once the ablution block is completed, the entire secondary phase of Sikanduko Combined School will relocate to the new site,” she said.
Class size limits were also emphasized to improve learning conditions.
“No classroom should exceed 40 students. Pre-primary classes should have a maximum of 25 learners, Grade 1 to Grade 7 classes should have no more than 35, and secondary schools may go up to 40 students, but no higher,” she stated.
Shilima reiterated the urgent need for 50 tents to manage overcrowding at Ndama JP, Ndama Combined, Ruben Makaranga, and Sauyemwa schools, where classrooms sometimes accommodate 60 to 70 learners.
Addressing the shortage could take three years or longer, depending on the availability of funds, she warned.
For inquiries: [email protected]
The region urgently requires two plots of land to construct new schools and reduce overcrowding. However, the local authority has yet to approve the land requests.
“We submitted a letter to the town council requesting the allocation of two plots—one in Satotwa and another south of Ngcove Junior Primary School—based on community recommendations for potential school sites,” Shilima explained during a recent meeting with school principals in Rundu.
“The directorate is ready, and principals for these schools have already been appointed. But without land allocation, we cannot move forward. This prevents us from addressing the overcrowding problem at Ruben Makaranga, Sauyemwa, and Ndama Junior Primary schools. My hands are tied,” she added.
Shilima emphasized that approval from the town council is crucial for the construction of new schools to alleviate overcrowded classrooms in the region.
Broader Challenges
The challenges in Rundu extend beyond land shortages. Shilima revealed that the region requires over 4,000 desks and chairs, along with 50 tents, to address the current lack of resources and mitigate overcrowding.
“In the meantime, school board chairpersons are encouraged to allocate funds for repairing broken desks and chairs. I am grateful to the principals who have already taken this initiative and urge others to follow suit,” she said.
Ongoing Measures
Shilima also highlighted steps being taken to ease the burden on schools, including separating the secondary phase at Sikanduko Combined School.
“At Sikanduko, we have separated the secondary phase and established a new secondary school to accommodate learners from Ndama South Primary School. Once the ablution block is completed, the entire secondary phase of Sikanduko Combined School will relocate to the new site,” she said.
Class size limits were also emphasized to improve learning conditions.
“No classroom should exceed 40 students. Pre-primary classes should have a maximum of 25 learners, Grade 1 to Grade 7 classes should have no more than 35, and secondary schools may go up to 40 students, but no higher,” she stated.
Shilima reiterated the urgent need for 50 tents to manage overcrowding at Ndama JP, Ndama Combined, Ruben Makaranga, and Sauyemwa schools, where classrooms sometimes accommodate 60 to 70 learners.
Addressing the shortage could take three years or longer, depending on the availability of funds, she warned.
For inquiries: [email protected]
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