Swakopmund: Education stakeholders in the Erongo Region have called for the urgent construction of additional classrooms, expansion of technical and vocational subjects, and targeted support for overcrowded and underperforming schools. The recommendations emerged during the recent Regional Education Introspection Conference in Swakopmund, where education officials, principals, and other stakeholders assessed the state of education and proposed interventions to address declining academic performance.According to Namibia Press Agency, stakeholders emphasized the need to improve learner outcomes and restore the region's position among Namibia's top-performing education regions. They urged authorities to prioritize reducing classroom overcrowding, improving teacher-to-learner ratios, and investing in modern learning infrastructure to accommodate the increasing learner numbers driven by migration and mining activities.Coastal High School principal Calvin Martin called for the introduction of applied mathematic s and physics at technical schools and the expansion of vocational qualification opportunities. He noted that technical schools are constrained by limited subject offerings, shortages of specialized teachers, and inadequate practical resources. "We do not want to see learners leaving the system without recognized certificates or employable skills," Martin said.Hanganeni Primary School principal Martha Hango stressed that quality infrastructure is essential for improved academic performance, stating that learners and teachers require conducive environments to succeed. Meanwhile, Matutura Secondary School principal Leonie Reid appealed for immediate support for overcrowded schools, noting that some institutions accommodate up to 47 learners per classroom while continuing to receive transferred learners despite limited capacity.Vrede Rede school board chairperson Presley Skrywer called for education planners to closely monitor teacher-to-learner ratios and ensure teacher recruitment keeps pace with rising en rollment. Acting education director Helena Asino highlighted that the Erongo Region has 99 schools, comprising 56 government and 43 private institutions, serving 60,988 learners with about 2,600 teachers.Asino mentioned that Grade 1 enrollment is projected to reach 8,237 learners by 2031, an increase of 1,805 learners, while Grade 8 enrollment is expected to rise to 6,329 learners. "To accommodate the projected growth, the region will require approximately three additional school blocks every year, together with more classrooms, learning resources, and about 60 additional teachers annually," Asino said.Despite improvements in the proportion of quality symbols (A-C) at Ordinary Level from 29.2 percent in 2023 to 35 percent in 2025, Asino noted the sharp decline in learner performance between primary and secondary school requires urgent intervention. Erongo retained its ninth-place national ranking at Ordinary Level and 11th place at Advanced Subsidiary Level in both 2024 and 2025.