Over 100 Grade 8 learners are currently on a waiting list to be placed in schools for the Hardap Region’s #Oan||ob circuit.

There are 15 pre-primary learners and 30 Grade 1 learners on the waiting list for the same circuit.

This was revealed in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday by George Dax, the Inspector of Education for the #Oan||ob circuit in the Hardap Region.

The circuit consists of 18 pre-primary, primary, secondary, and combined schools located in Rehoboth and 50 kilometres outside of town.

Parents from across the Hardap Region, according to Dax, have been flocking to the Teachers’ Resource Centre office since Monday in search of placement for their children.

He stated that, despite the fact that applications for entry grades such as pre-primary, Grade 1 and Grade 8 closed in June 2022, some parents did not apply, and the majority of them are the ones queuing for placement.

“Since Monday I’ve been dealing with parents. From all over the region and in some cases, from further afield. Every year, the same thing happens: parents line up for entry grade placement. However, we are unable to change course because the demand for schools continues to rise year after year,” he explained.

Dax explained that his office is in charge of placing learners after receiving a list from each school indicating the number of learners in each classroom.

This process, he explained, is carried out on the first and second days of school to give an indication of how many spaces are available to place learners on a waiting list.

“So far I’ve received nearly all of the numbers. We have begun the process of compiling the lists for the various grades. My office will be going out to the various schools tomorrow to do a headcount and confirm the numbers. For the time being, we are accommodating the parents by noting the names of the students and their preferred school,” he said.

Dax also urged parents to be patient while his office collects data to make provision for learners who have not yet been placed.

He stated that by next week Monday, every learner on a waiting list will be placed in a school, as the Ministry of Education is working collaboratively to ensure that every learner has a school to attend.

When approached, parents in the queue were hesitant to speak with this agency; however speaking in a crowd, they indicated that they simply want the ministry to make space for their children before the teachers begin with lessons.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency