Pre-primary pupils outnumber available places

Overcrowded classrooms and rising demand for pre-primary placements are straining public schools, prompting concerns over capacity, admissions and potential corruption.

The situation has also led to the education directorate in the Erongo region temporarily suspending all new pupils enrolments at public primary schools at Swakopmund and Walvis Bay with immediate effect.

Elim Primary School principal Katrina Simeon yesterday said the classes now accommodate around 45 pupils, exceeding the 35 pupils-per-teacher ratio for primary schools.

She said this happens because many Afrikaans-speaking parents opt to enrol their children in the English stream.

“We look at whether you live close to the school and whether you already have children enrolled here. Coming on the first day or the last day does not determine whether your child will be placed,” she said.

Another school principal, Valerie Gertze of Hermann Gmeiner Primary School in Windhoek, says demand for pre-primary places has continued to outstrip available space, with parents queuing on the first day when applications open.

Gertze says the school’s two English classes fill up almost immediately, while its single Afrikaans class initially has fewer applications.

However, many parents accept placement in the Afrikaans class simply to secure a place for their child and later request for a transfer to an English class.

“When we tell parents there is no space, some cry and plead with us. Some will accept any available place because they are desperate to get their child into the school,” she says.

She urges parents to apply to several schools instead of relying on a single preferred school.

“The recommended ratio is one teacher for 40 pupils, but some of our classes have between 45 and 48 pupils,” Gertze says, adding that the school urgently needs additional classrooms to accommodate growing demand.

Gertze says desperation among parents can create opportunities for corruption.

“When parents insist on only one school, that’s where under-the-table dealings can start,” she says.

This year, Hermann Gmeiner received 90 pre-primary applications for only 75 available places. To accommodate demand, the school increased class sizes by five pupils-per-class, pushing enrolment above its intended capacity.

‘NO TO BRIBERY’

Minister of education, innovation, youth, sport, arts and culture Sanet Steenkamp says the ministry is working closely with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to prevent bribery and other irregularities during the 2027 school admission process.

Steenkamp last week said the ministry has rolled out a nationwide awareness campaign involving regional education offices, school principals and inspectors, while the ACC has been engaged to educate school leaders on preventing corruption in admissions.

“In Khomas specifically, the ACC held a meeting with principals where admission procedures were discussed in depth. Bribery was also addressed through presentations and discussions with school principals,” she said.

According to Steenkamp, the ministry has made it clear that no teacher, principal or school official may solicit or accept bribes to secure school placements.

“We are encouraging parents not to pay any bribes, and we are equally reminding our teachers and principals not to compromise the admission process by accepting bribes or encouraging people to pay more for application forms,” she said.

Khomas regional director of education Paulus Nghikembua told The Namibian last Tuesday that schools are following the ministry of education’s admissions guidelines.

“Every year we try to improve the process. In the future, what we would want is an electronic system where parents can apply online. That will smoothen the process,” Nghikembua said.

Responding to concerns from school principals that many classes have exceeded the recommended teacher-to-pupil ratio, Nghikembua said the admissions process is still underway and a clearer picture will emerge once all schools have submitted their enrolment figures.

ERONGO

The Namibia National Teachers Union (Nantu) in the Erongo region says overcrowding in schools at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund has reached a level where the system can no longer absorb new pupils.

This follows the Erongo Regional Council’s decicion to temporarily suspend all new pupil enrolments at public primary schools at the two towns with immediate effect.

The directive, issued by chief regional officer Mupenzeni Ntelamo, says the move is due to high demand for school placements and the need to verify available capacity before further admissions are processed.

Erongo Nantu chairperson Given //Gowaseb says schools are under pressure due to rising pupil numbers and limited classroom space.

“As we all know, Walvis Bay and Swakopmund are having a problem with overcrowded classes and oversupply of pupils,” Gowaseb says.

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